Automated container handling system for refuse collection vehicles
AssigneeCon-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsGrant McNeilus, James R. Cunningham, Brian R. Meldahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fully automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle is provided that utilizes a vehicle-includes an extending, pivoting arm with a base equipped with a converging grabber to seize and empty the container. The base that grabs the container includes a sonar transducer that functions with a hydraulic system that operates the arm and grabber using a programmable mounted video camera which feeds video to a cab-mounted monitor to inform a driver of the location of a container of interest enabling accurate alignment of the vehicle. The system is operated by a single button in the cab and logic controller (PLC) computer program to run the hydraulic controls.
Claims16
An automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle allowing an operator to carry out collection operations from a cab of the refuse vehicle, comprising:
- a video system having a monitor mounted in the cab configured to provide the operator with a real-time video image of a container to be emptied while the truck is moving;
- a laterally extendable arm assembly mounted on the vehicle, comprising a central arm element, a base attached to and movable along with said central arm element, the base being equipped with a converging grabber configured to seize and release containers to be emptied, wherein extending and retracting of the central arm element also extends and retracts said base laterally with respect to said vehicle;
- a drive system for moving said base along said central arm element, thereby allowing said grabber to move in a position to seize and manipulate the container to be emptied;
- a proximity sensor mounted on the grabber for detecting the position of the grabber relative to the container to be emptied as said base is moved outwardly toward the container;
- and
- a remotely activated control system for activating a fully automated container handling cycle, wherein the fully automated container handling cycle comprised extending the single central arm element toward the container, operating the grabber, raising and lowering said base along the central arm element for emptying the container and replacing the container, and retracting the arm, said control system in communication with said proximity sensor to receive signals used during said fully automated container handling cycle.
An automated container handling system carried by a refuse vehicle to coordinate dumping of a waste container into a storage chamber carried by the refuse vehicle, the container handling system comprising:
- a video system carried by the vehicle for obtaining and providing real-time video images of a pick-up area adjacent the vehicle, wherein the video images are presented to an operator within a cab of the vehicle;
- a laterally extendable arm rotatably mounted on the vehicle and movable between a transport position and a grasping position, the laterally extendable arm having a central arm element, a base movably attached to the central arm element, a converging grabber mounted on the base for seizing and releasing a container to be emptied, wherein extending and retracting of the single central arm element causes the base to extend and retract in a substantially lateral direction with respect to the vehicle;
- a proximity sensor mounted on the grabber for sensing a position of the grabber relative to the container to be emptied as the base is extended, and to produce a signal when the grabber is a predetermined distance from the container to be emptied;
- a drive system mounted in the central arm element configured to move the base along the arm from a grasping position to a dump position;
- and
- a remotely activated control system for activating a fully automated container handling cycle in response to an activation signal from the operator, wherein the automated container handling cycle comprises:
- extending the central arm element so that the base is positioned at the predetermined distance from the container to be emptied;
- operating the grabber to grasp the container to be emptied;
- activating the drive system, thus causing the based to move to the dump position thereby causing the contents of the container to be emptied to be dumped into the storage chamber;
- further activating the drive system to lower the base, thus causing the container to be replaced at substantially the same position where it was grasped;
- releasing the gripper;
- and
- retracting the arm to the transport position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.