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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DEVICE FOR EMPTYING A CONTAINER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/186446
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for emptying a container. The device includes a frame construction (10) and a casing (11) for the container (12), moveably supported thereto. In addition, the device includes actuators (13) for moving the casing (11) and thus emptying the container (12) by tilting it. The casing (11) is arranged as a sledge (14) and the frame construction (10) is arranged as a guide (15) in such a way that the sledge (14) is adapted to travel along the frame construction (10) from bottom to top and vice versa. The frame construction (10) additionally includes support elements (27), adapted for fastening the device to a "side (45) included in a platform (28), and the location thereof relative to the frame construction (10) being arranged to be adjustable in the vertical direction and lockable.

Inventors:
KEMPPINEN SIMO (FI)
PAASONEN JUSSI (FI)
RIPATTI JUKKA (FI)
VISKARI PENTTI (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2013/050656
Publication Date:
December 19, 2013
Filing Date:
June 14, 2013
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
RPV LIFT OY (FI)
International Classes:
B65F1/14; B65F3/08; B65G65/23
Foreign References:
US5582500A1996-12-10
US20110229292A12011-09-22
GB2370826A2002-07-10
US7018155B12006-03-28
US6379099B12002-04-30
US20110240777A12011-10-06
US20100170537A12010-07-08
US20030042343A12003-03-06
US5163805A1992-11-17
NL8401018A1985-10-16
US3910434A1975-10-07
US5288200A1994-02-22
US4036382A1977-07-19
Other References:
See also references of EP 2861509A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KESPAT OY (Jyväskylä, FI)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Device for emptying a container, the device including

a frame construction (10) ,

a casing (11) for the container (12) moveably supported to the frame construction (10) , and

actuators (13) for moving the casing (11) and thus emptying the container (13) by tilting it,

wherein the casing (11) is arranged as a sledge (14) and the frame construction (10) is arranged as a guide (15) so that the sledge (14) is adapted to travel along the frame construction (10) from bottom to top and vice versa, characterized in that the frame construction (10) includes support elements (27), adapted to fasten the device to a side (45) included in the platform (28), the location of which relative to the frame construction (10) is arranged to be adjustable in the vertical direction and lockable.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the frame construction (10) includes a vertical beam (24) around which the support elements (27) are supported.

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame construction (10) includes wheels (44) for -moving the device .

4. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide (15) includes a straight section (16) and a curved section (17), which is arranged higher than the straight section (16) .

5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the curved section (17) comprises a curve (18) with a circular arc shape, the angle of degree a of which ranges from 120 to 190, more preferably from 150 to 180, degrees.

6. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuators (13) include a transmission chain (19), adapted as an endless loop, which is fastened to the sledge (14).

5

7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the transmission chain (19) is adapted essentially entirely inside the frame construction (10).

10 8. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guide (15) is composed of two plate constructions (20) , adapted at a distance from each other, with, roller elements (21) arranged in the sledge (14) adapted to lean on them.

15 9. Device according to any of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in' that the curve (18) is dimensioned so that the center of gravity of the sledge (14) changes by 50 to 500 mm, more preferably by 100 to 300 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the frame construction.

20

10. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sledge (14) includes a safety rail (39) for both locking the container (12) to the sledge (14) and preventing the user from accessing too close to the device.

25

11. Device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a work machine (48) is adapted as the power source of the actuators (13) .

30 12. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device includes a winch (33) for moving the support elements.

Description:
DEVICE FOR EMPTYING A CONTAINER

The invention relates to a device for emptying a container, the device including

- a frame construction,

a casing for the container moveably supported to the frame construction, and

actuators for moving the casing and thus emptying the container by tilting it,

wherein the casing is arranged as a, sledge and the frame construction is arranged as a guide so that the sledge is adapted to travel along the frame construction from bottom to top and vice versa . Devices for emptying a container, such as a waste container or a waste cart, have been proposed. For example, garbage trucks have fixed hydraulic dumping devices with which a waste container can be emptied to the load space of the garbage truck. Moveable devices with which a waste container can be emptied to a garbage platform, for example, have also been developed.

The features of fixed devices have been adapted in known devices. Therefore, they have become heavy and thus difficult to move. In addition, known actuators are based on hydraulics, which further increases the gross weight of the device and the manufacturing costs. The dumping geometry of known devices, for its part, demands a lot of power, which specifically requires application of hydraulics. At the same time, the emptying capacity of the waste container is low and a sufficient dumping distance requires separate guide constructions. This increases the soiling degree of the device and requires separate protec t tive structures, which further increase the weight of the device. At the same time, the devices are mainly suitable for waste containers of a specific size. The object of the invention is to provide a novel device for emptying a container, which is simpler and lighter than before, yet more robust than heretofore. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel device for emptying a container, featuring a significant dumping distance without separate additional constructions. The features characterizing this invention become evident from the appended claims. The invention combines various functions and uses new and surprising structural solutions. Thus, it has been possible to obtain a light-weight device, which facilitates the moveability of the device. Regardless of this, good robustness has been obtained for the device, permitting even heavily loaded containers to be emptied. The novel construction also demands less power than before thus enabling the use of actuators that are simpler than heretofore.

The invention is described below in detail by making reference to the enclosed drawings which illustrate some of the embodiments of the invention, in which ·

Figure 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear view of the device according to the invention,

Figure 3 shows the device according to the invention when starting its use,

Figure 4 is a side view of the device according to the invention when starting to empty a container,

Figure 5 shows the device according to the invention- during the emptying of a container,

Figure 6 is an oblique rear view of the device according to the invention,

Figure 7 shows the device according to the invention in ' context with a work machine. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the mere device according to the invention for emptying a container. One application for the device is emptying a waste container to a garbage platform. With minor changes, the device can also be used to empty other containers to various platform, carts, trailers and conveyors as well as to other containers. The volume of the most common waste containers equipped with wheels varies from 140 liters to 660 liters and even to 800 liters, and all these can be emptied with the device according to the invention. Usually waste containers are also equipped with a lifting collar which is designed to serve as a fastening counterpart for dumping them. Wheels also facilitate the manipulation of the waste container even on uneven surfaces. Generally, the device is designed for emptying a container. The device includes a frame construction 10 and a casing 11 for the container 12, moveably supported thereto. Furthermore, the device includes actuators 13 for moving the casing 11 and thus emptying the container 12 by tilting it. Due to the actuator, the container can be emptied even by one person alone without manually lifting or tilting it. Thus the container can be emptied safely and quickly with minor effort.

In the embodiment proposed, the casing 11 is arranged as a sledge 14 and the frame construction 10 is arranged as a guide 15 so that the sledge 14 is adapted to travel along the frame construction 10 from bottom to top and vice versa. In other words, two different functions are arranged for the frame construction. Firstly, it serves to lift the container permit- ting the container to be dumped to a garbage platform equipped with sides, for example. Secondly, the frame construction is utilized as a sledge guide, which simplifies the device design. Due to the sledge, an advantageous dumping geometry can also be achieved for the device. A novel dumping geometry can be achieved with various methods . In the embodiment proposed, the guide 15 first includes a straight section 16 and then a curved section 17, which is arranged higher than the straight section 16. Here the straight section is essentially vertical, due to which the container rises straight up. Only after achieving the curved section, the sledge starts to turn and the container starts to empty. The operation of the device is described below in more detail. More precisely, the curved section 17 comprises a curve 18 with the angle of degree a ranging from 120 to 190, more, preferably from 150 to 180, degrees. Thus the container can be tipped even upside down, which ensures perfect dumping. It is rarely necessary to fully utilize the angle of degree, because dumping over the horizontal level is often sufficient for emptying a ' container. Advantageously, the curve 18 has a circular arc shape. Thus, container dumping takes place smoothly without jerks. In addition, the curved section preferably starts only above the edge of the side 45 of the garbage platform 28 (Figure 3) . Thus the curved section can be taken well above the garbage platform, inside its lateral side. This being the case, the entire contents of the waste container are reliably dropped to the garbage platform and not outside the side or on the device itself. At the same time, separate guide constructions are not needed. Generally, the curve 18 is dimensioned so that the center of gravity of the sledge 14 changes by 50 to- 500 mm, more preferably by 100 to 300 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the frame construction (Figure 5) . Thus the contents of the container are reliably dropped to the platform, even if the device is slightly further away from the side.

The sledge and its curved track demand a flexible transmission. Here the actuators 13 include a transmission chain 19, adapted as an endless loop, which is connected to the sledge 14. By rotating the transmission chain, the sledge moves along the guide. The travel of the transmission chain can be made flexi- ble and thus such that it follows the sledge track. In addition, the transmission chain can be supported with sliding blocks, or chain pulleys can be used, if necessary. Due to the novel dumping geometry, stresses acting on the transmission chain are low, because the container is first merely lifted and only starts to turn after the lift in the curved section, so that part of the sledge and container mass is supported to the frame construction. At the top dead center of the curved section, essentially no stresses are exerted on the transmission chain.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the device according to the invention. The frame construction is thus arranged as a guide. Here the guide 15 is composed of two plate components 20 adapted at a distance from each other and with roller elements '21 arranged in the sledge 14 adapted to lean against these. The roller elements 21 of the sledge 14 are double-groove rollers 22, dimensioned according to the plate components 20. Thus the rollers are supported to the plate components creating stable, yet simple, sledge supporting. In the embodiment proposed, the sledge 14 is composed of two plate sections 23, adapted on both sides of the guide 15 and with the above-mentioned rollers 22 adapted between these. Here the number of rollers is three of which two are located on the container side. Thus the mass of the container is uniformly distributed on the guide and the sledge turns easily in the curved section. The roller elements can also be made by combining single-groove rollers or discs with varying diameters between which the plate component can be fitted.

Selecting an open frame construction for the guide has other benefits, too. According to the invention, the transmission chain 19 is essentially adapted entirely within the frame construction 10; in this case, thus, between the plate compo- nents . This is almost completely implemented in Figure 2, where the transmission chain 19 is shown with a dot-and-dash line. The transmission chain runs between the plate components almost over the entire guide track. The frame construction also includes a vertical beam 24 with one toothed wheel 25 at the top and an electric motor 26 adapted beside it. The electric motor can be used to rotate the transmission chain back and forth and thus to move the sledge. Open positions and the- open gaps created by the transmission chain are isolated with protective structures (not shown) . In this way, user injuries and soiling of the transmission chain can be avoided. The electric motor can also be located in the lower part of the device (Figure 5) . In addition, by increasing the size of the guide and by using toothed wheels, the transmission chain can be entirely located between the plate components. In other words, the transmission chain would then travel up along one side of the guide and down along the other one.

The vertical beam 24 has a · more important task than to merely support the electric motor. That is, the frame construction 10 includes support elements 27 for connecting to the side 45 of the platform 28, the location of the support elements 27 relative to the frame construction 10 being arranged adjustable in the vertical direction and lockable. In Figure 1, the support elements 27 are in the lower part of the vertical beam 24, but they can also be lifted up until to the electric motor 26. Here, too, the vertical beam 24 is adapted as a guide for the support elements 27. More precisely, the support elements 27 are supported around the vertical beam 24. Here the support elements include a vertical beam 29 with L-shaped support arms 30 adapted to its ends. Two pairs of brackets 31, to which the side 45 of the garbage platform 28 is adapted, are arranged in the support arms 30. The distance of the device from the side can be selected by arranging the side between two brackets or one bracket and a support arm. The brackets can also be moveable, in which case their position and distance can be changed relative to each other. For locking, the support elements are here provided with a butterfly bolt 32. Locking can also be implemented in other ways. While the support elements can be manually moved, their moving is here assisted by a winch 33 (Figures 2 and 6) . Since the support elements lean against the side, the device can be used even if, for some reason, it would be necessary to move its wheels slightly further away from the platform. In addition, the vertical beam 24 is connected to the plate components 20 of the guide 15 with two steel bars 47 arranged at a distance from each other. Thus the frame construction becomes a robust entity and the travel of the trans- mission chain 19 is free of obstacles.

With the support elements, the entire device can be stabilized when utilizing the side of the garbage platform. At the same time, the point of support can be as high as possible, which reduces stresses acting on the frame construction. At the same time, the device is suitable for use with platforms of various heights. The side heights of the most common demountable platforms are 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 meters. In the applications proposed, the side height is 2.0 meters. Since the device leans against the side, support fastenings in the platform or the base are not necessary. Thus, the device is quick and easy to move and it can be used on many different surfaces.

Figure 2 shows a lockable lifting counterpart 34, adapted in the sledge 14, which includes a lifting bar 35 and a locking bar 36. The lifting bar is dimensioned and designed so that it fits in the lifting collars of various containers. Due to the locking bar, the container is securely kept in the sledge despite dumping. Figure 2 shows the locking bar 36 in two positions. On the right-hand side, the locking bar is in the open position permitting the lifting bar to be placed in the lifting collar. On the left-hand side, the locking bar is in the closed position preventing the lifting collar from becoming loose of the sledge. The locking bar 36 itself is also equipped with a locking device 37 which prevents inadvertent opening of the locking bar 36. In Figure 1, only the lifting bar 35 is shown.

Figure 2 also shows the support bars 38, fastened to the sledge 14, which support the container when it starts turning to the curved section. This device, more precisely the sledge, can also be equipped with a safety rail 39, extending lower than the lifting collar, provided with two functionalities (Figure 4). Firstly, the safety rail supports the waste container during dumping thus preventing exertion of excessive stresses on the lifting collar and thereby its damaging. On the other hand, with appropriate dimensioning and design, the safety rail prevents the user or outsiders from accessing too close to the device. In other words, the sledge 14 includes a safety rail 39 both for locking the container 12 to the sledge 14 and for preventing the user from coming too close to the device. This further improves safety at work.

Excluding Figure 5, the power source in the embodiments pro- posed is a direct current electric motor 26 equipped with a battery 40 which is here controlled with a controller 41 provided with pushbuttons. On the other hand, the power source can also be even a chain transmission equipped with a manual wheel. Advantageously, an alternating current electric motor equipped with a reversing device is used and the motor is connected to the electricity network with a cable. In this case, sufficient power is achieved for also lifting high loads while the gross weight of the device remains advantageously low. A light-weight device is easy to move manually as well. The transmission chain is additionally almost slackless and can also be used to agitate the container. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the device in which the electric motor 26 connectable to the electrical network is located in the bottom part of the device. In this way, the center of gravity of the device can be lower than before. A suitable speed is achieved by using a toothed wheel 42 of a suitable size and an angular transmission 43 provided with gears. A self-locking worm gear is advantageously used. In this case, a separate brake is not necessary.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the device according to the invention. Here the power source is a work machine 48, such as a small loader. Power can be drawn from the work machine to the electric motor via a cable 49, or pressurized hydraulic fluid can be supplied with hoses. In this case, the device is equipped with a hydraulic motor 26'. Waste generating particu- larly in construction sites is often heavy and various work machines are used there. By using a work machine as the power source, the design of the device can be simplified and the device is sufficiently efficient for dumping heavy .containers as well. In Figure 7, the device and the small loader are not shown to equal scale.

In the embodiments proposed, the wheels 44 are arranged in the corners of the frame construction 10. While various wheels can be used depending on the surface, pneumatic rubber wheels are suitable for the most common surfaces and even snow. Advantageously, at least some or even all of the wheels rotate 360 degrees, which facilitates the moving of the device. With the construction according to the invention, the point of support can be located high, in which case a significant part of the load is exerted on the side of the platform. In this case, lifting is not prevented even by elasticity of rubber tires. At the same time, supporting permits the side to be tilted or otherwise inclined. In addition, a locking system can be arranged in one or more wheels to avoid inadvertent movement of the device. The wheel can also be adapted so that the mere device moves supported by the wheels, while, when loaded, the wheels are pressed in permitting the frame construction to lean on the surface. Thus the device can be more robustly supported. Since the curved frame construction of the device according to the invention extends inside the platform, the contents of the container are reliably dropped onto a demountable platform. At the same time, the position of the container changes relative to the demountable platform, in which case the container is securely dumped to the platform. In addition, the container is controllably dumped without a sudden change in the center of gravity. In other words, the dumping point of the device changes and therefore separate guide constructions are not needed. At the same time, flowing of waste on top of the device is prevented.

In addition to the construction and restoration work, the device can be used, for example, by laundries and hospitals and other public societies. Naturally, the device - can also be rented together with a demountable platform as a part of a more comprehensive service. Waste containers can be emptied more easily and safely than before. At the same time, ' a demountable platform can be more completely filled, which - reduces the emptying intervals of the demountable platform. The use and operation of the device are described below. For example, the device is moved beside the platform 28 and the support elements 27 are lifted sufficiently high to bring the brackets 31 to both sides of the side 45. The position of the device is checked and the support elements 27 are placed on the side 45 and locked in place. After this, the sledge 14 is lowered sufficiently and the container 12 is pushed against the sledge 14. Then the sledge 14 is lifted to such an " extent that the lifting bar 35 settles securely in the lifting collar 46 Then the locking bar is turned to the closed ' position and locked.

With the container 12 locked to the sledge 14, lifting can be started using the controller 41. First the container 12 goes up and then gradually turns (Figure 5) . After emptying, the con- tainer is lowered and disconnected from the sledge. When this location of the demountable platform is full, locking of the support elements is released and the device is moved slightly forward along the side. After locking the support elements, subsequent containers can be emptied. In this way, the demountable platform can be filled as full as possible quickly and easily.