Technical field of application

The invention relates to the field of machinery for the management of residues from the processing of solid materials.

More in detail, the invention relates to a dumping hopper, particularly for the collection of shavings resulting from processing of metal materials.

Background art To manage the residues (shavings, scraps, etc.) of some types of processing of solid materials (turning, milling, etc.), special collection dumpers are used, to be placed alongside the operating machines used in the manufacturing processes.

Known collection dumpers essentially comprise: - a frame provided with a first pair of wheels for resting on the ground and with seats for coupling to the forks of lift trucks;

- a collection box, provided with a second pair of wheels for resting on the ground and with hinged fastening means adapted to allow the rotation thereof on the frame; - manually operated means for releasing the collection box from the frame, adapted to determine the switching thereof from a horizontal loading position to an oblique unloading position.

The manually operated means for releasing the collection box from the frame substantially comprise: - a trigger integral with a revolving pin acting as a fulcrum, comprising a tooth adapted to engage the box to determine the maintenance thereof in a horizontal loading position, and a tail;

- a lever also integral with the revolving pin, adapted to disengage the trigger from the box to determine the switching thereof from the horizontal loading position to the oblique unloading position;

- thread-like traction means of the lever, connected to the free end of the lever itself;

- elastic trigger return means connected to said tail. Such collection dumpers can be moved by forklifts which allow them to be lifted and moved from the operating machines to the storage stations of the residues produced by them, normally consisting of large capacity roll-off boxes.

The release means of the boxes can only be operated manually from the inside by the operator located inside the cockpit of the forklift truck used for the handling thereof, so as to allow them to overturn and consequently empty into the storage container, without requiring the intervention of operators on the ground.

The box release means of such collection dumpers limit the use thereof with forklifts which are compulsorily provided with open-type cockpits, due to the impossibility for the operators to operate them without getting off the forklifts themselves, with evident danger and discomfort, as well as an increase in the execution times of the unloading manoeuvres. The release means also require physical strength and dexterity by the operators, which not all of them possess.

Disclosure of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks. The object of the invention is achieved with a dumping hopper, according to the independent main claim 1.

Further features of such dumping hopper are described in the dependent claims.

A dumping hopper, according to the invention, has the following important advantages:

- is provided with means for releasing the collection box which can be operated remotely, from the cockpits of the lift trucks, both open and closed, without leaning or exiting from them;

- is provided with means for releasing the collection box which can be operated both manually and automatically, without the need for effort by the operator; is provided with release means for the collection box which can be constructively integrated into newly produced dumping hoppers or can be applied as a modification kit to pre-existing dumping hopper. Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description set forth below, with the aid of the drawings which show preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, in which: - Figs. 1-2 show a plan lateral view of a dumping hopper, according to the invention, in the respective loading and unloading positions;

- Figs. 3-4 show an axonometric view from above and an exploded axonometric view of construction details of an automated actuation unit constructively integrated in said dumping hopper;

- Figs. 5-6 show an axonometric view of construction details of an automated actuation unit made as a modification kit for pre existing dumping hoppers;

Fig. 7 shows an axonometric view of a component of the kit applied to a pre-existing dumping hopper.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the details of the figures, a dumping hopper CA, according to the invention, substantially comprises:

- a frame 1 provided with a first pair of wheels 2’ for resting on the ground and moving and with seats 3 for coupling to the forks of lift trucks;

- a collection box 4, provided with a second pair of wheels 2” for resting on the ground and moving and with fastening means 5 adapted to allow the rotation thereof on the front portion of the frame 1 ;

- manually operated means for releasing the collection box 4 from the frame 1 , adapted to determine the switching thereof from a horizontal loading position to an oblique unloading position. Preferably, the collection box 4 has an oblique side L protruding from the frame 1 and is associated with said frame 1 by means of fastening means 5 of the hinge type or the like.

The manually operated means for releasing the collection box 4 comprise:

- a trigger 6 integral with a revolving pin 7 acting as a fulcrum, comprising a tooth B adapted to engage the box 4 to determine the maintenance thereof in a horizontal loading position, and a tail C;

- a lever 8, also integral with the revolving pin 7, adapted to disengage the trigger 6 from the box 4 to determine the switching thereof from a horizontal loading position to an oblique unloading position;

- thread-like traction means 9 of the lever 8, connected to a free end of the lever itself;

- elastic return means 10 of the trigger 6 connected to said tail C.

A dumping hopper CA, according to the invention, further comprises:

- a unit 11 for the automated actuation of the release means of the collection box 4, which may be selectively activated by means of a remote command generated by a remote control.

The actuation unit 11 comprises:

- an electromechanical actuator 12, associated with the tail C of the trigger 6;

- an electronic board 13, for controlling the actuator 12; - rechargeable batteries 14, for the power supply of the above components;

- a box-like structure 15, for housing said components.

The electromechanical actuator 12 integrated in the actuation unit 11 comprises:

- a fixed body 16, included in the box-like structure 15 and integral therewith;

- a movable arm 17, protruding from the box-like structure 15, provided at the end with a fork 18 which can be engaged on the tail C of the trigger 6, to determine the rotation of the latter.

The fork 18 provided on the movable arm 17 of the electromechanical actuator 12 integrated in the actuation unit 11 comprises:

- a collar 19 reversibly associable with the free end of the movable arm 17, provided with ports 20 for the passage of pins 21 or similar means for the reversible connection to said movable arm 17;

- a bearing 22 adapted to limit friction deriving from contact with the tail C of the trigger 6, where said bearing 22 is keyed onto a rotation shaft 23 comprising gripping discs 24 on the free ends thereof;

- seats 25 for housing said rotation shaft 23, with an indicatively L-shape;

- balls 26 holding the rotation shaft 23 inside the short sections of the housing seats 25, stressed by thrust springs 27; - channels 28 for housing the balls 26 and thrust springs 27, closed by dowels 29.

The electronic board 13 integrated in the actuation unit 11 comprises:

- an antenna 30, adapted to receive control pulses transmitted by said remote control;

- sensors 31, adapted to detect horizontal and/or vertical displacements of the hopper CA.

The box-like structure 15 for housing the components of the actuation unit 11 comprises:

- a reversible closing cover 32, adapted to allow access to the electromechanical actuator 12, to the electronic board 13 and to the rechargeable batteries 14 for carrying out maintenance and/or replacement operations.

The actuation unit 11 as described can be constructively integrated into newly manufactured dumping hoppers CA or be made as a modification kit to be applied to pre-existing dumping hoppers CA.

When implemented as a modification kit, the actuation unit 11 further comprises:

- a bracket 33 adapted to allow the assembly of the actuation unit 11 on frames 1 of dumping hoppers CA of any conformation;

- an extension 34 for the trigger 6, adapted to allow the engagement of the fork 18 of the movable arm 17 of the electromechanical actuator 12 on tails C of triggers 6 of any conformation.

The mounting bracket 33 comprises:

- slots 35, adapted to be engaged by studs 36 of pins 37 integral with the box-like structure 15 and by bolts for fastening to frames 1 of dumping hoppers CA.

The coupling extension 34 comprises:

- shaped ears 38, applicable astride tails C of triggers 6, provided with ports 39 for the passage of pins or similar means of connection to said tails C;

- teeth 40 for connection to elastic means 10 for returning said triggers 6.

The operating principle of a dumping hopper CA, according to the invention, may be summarized as described below.

With the body 4 full of shavings, the hopper CA is associated with a forklift truck by inserting its forks into the appropriate seats 3 of the frame 1.

Using the forklift truck, the hopper CA is transferred to a storage location for processing residues and raised above a storage container, for example of the roll-off box type.

The unloading of the box 4 of the hopper CA is managed directly from the passenger compartment of the lift truck associated with it, in automated mode.

The forklift operator activates the actuation unit 11 by means of a remote command generated by a remote control.

The pulses of the remote control are received by the electronic board 13 responsible for controlling the electromechanical actuator 12, through the antenna 30 connected thereto.

The actuation of the actuator 12 determines the exit of the movable arm 17 from the fixed body 16 and the pressure of the fork 18 on the tail C of the trigger 6 and consequently the rotation of the trigger 6 associated with the revolving pin 7.

The rotation of the trigger 6 causes it to move away from the box 4 and consequently the disengagement of the relative tooth B from the box 4 itself, thus making it possible to rotate said box 4 on the means 5 for fastening to the frame 1 of the hopper CA.

For safety reasons, the electronic board 13 activates the actuator 12 exclusively after receiving a predetermined number of pulses from the remote control, via the antenna 30, and detecting the immobility of the hopper CA, through the sensors 31 connected thereto.

The electronic board 13 also activates the actuator 12 according to a predetermined timing, after which the movable arm 17 is retracted into the fixed body 16 and the pressure of the tail C of the trigger 6 is interrupted.

The fork 18 is arranged on the free end of the movable arm 17 of the actuator 12 by means of a collar 19, provided with ports 20 for the passage of reversible connection pins 21 , adapted to allow easy disassembly in the event of maintenance and/or replacement.

The fork 18 comprises a bearing 22 adapted to limit the friction deriving from the rotation of the trigger 6 generated by the pressure on the tail C of the trigger itself. Said bearing 22 comprises gripping discs 24 adapted to allow the extraction thereof from the housing seats 25, in the event of malfunctions of the actuator 12 which prevent the correct retraction of the movable arm 17 in the fixed body 16.

This makes it possible to restore sufficient space in the fork 18 to allow the trigger 6 to rotate on the revolving pin 7 and consequently provide for its manual operation in any case by means of the lever 8.

The removal of the lip B of the trigger 6 from the body 4 obtained by means of the actuator 12 causes the loading of the elastic means 10 interposed between the tail C of the trigger 6 and the frame 1 of the hopper CA.

The elastic means 10 return the lip B of the trigger 6 to the locking position of the body 4 after the retraction of the movable arm 17 of the actuator 12 has taken place.

With the box 4 released, the weight of the contents weighs on the oblique side L causing it to rotate on the means 5 for fastening to the frame 1 and consequently reaching the oblique unloading position.

With the box 4 empty, the operator of the forklift brings the hopper CA to the ground, determining the contact of the oblique side L of the box 4 with the edge of the underlying storage container, so as to forcefully cause the counter-rotation of the box 4 on the means 5 for fastening to the frame 1 of the hopper CA and consequently the restoration of the horizontal loading position.

The tooth B of the trigger 6, returned to the locking position by the elastic means 10, again engages the box 4 of the hopper CA ensuring that it maintains the horizontal loading position which has just been restored.

The actuation unit 11 can be constructively integrated into newly manufactured dumping hoppers CA or be made as a modification kit to be applied to pre-existing dumping hoppers CA.

In the case of embodiment as a modification kit, the actuation unit 11 comprises a bracket 33, adapted to allow it to be mounted on frames 1 of dumping hoppers CA of a known type, and an extension 34, adapted to allow the engagement of the fork 18 of the movable arm 17 on tails C of triggers 6 of any conformation.