# US 2014/0152033 A1 · Device and method for collection of material from a surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152033 A1 - Document ID: US20140152033A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,508 - Filed: 2012-07-31 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-02 - Inventors: Graham J. Wilson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152033A1 ## CPC - E01H 1/1206: {for picking up excrements (manure or urine pouches for animal husbandry A01K23/00)} - E01H 2001/1293: {Walking cane or the like, i.e. implements allowing handling while in an upright position} - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) ## Abstract The invention provides a device (10, 210, 510) for collecting material from a surface. The device is particularly but not necessarily exclusively suited to collection of animal excreta, it has a jaw arrangement (22, 224, 524) which is able to be opened to define a mouth (28) for receiving the material to be collected, and to be closed to collect the material. A conveyor mechanism (44, 46, 364) is provided for advancing collected material into a housing (12, 512). A liner (33) is placed over the jaw arrangement to separate it from the material being collected. The conveyor mechanism serves to advance the liner along with the material collected therein, whereby the material is able to be collected into the housing and retained in the liner without making contact with surfaces of the device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for collecting material from a surface, the device comprising a housing for receiving collected material, a jaw arrangement which is able to be opened to provide a mouth for receiving the material and closed to collect the material, and a conveyor mechanism comprising at least one belt or chain which is operable when the jaw mechanism is closed to advance a liner, placed over the jaw arrangement to separate it from the material being collected, so that in use the jaws are able to be closed around the material to be collected and then the conveyor is operable to advance the liner and the material collected in it through the mouth and into the housing, the collected material being retained in the liner without making contact with surfaces of the device. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the jaw mechanism is operable independently of the conveyor mechanism so that the jaw mechanism is able to be opened and closed without advancing the liner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the conveyor mechanism is adapted to advance a predetermined distance each time it is operated. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the belt or chain is passed around a member mounted on a movable jaw of the jaw arrangement so that the belt or chain is moved along with the jaws as they open and close. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the belt or chain carries at least one paddle for collecting material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 comprising at least one pair of belts or chains separated from one another and linked by the paddle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two belts or chains each carrying a plurality of paddles positioned to contact one another upon closure of the jaws to collect material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the jaws are retractable into the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device as claimed in claim 10 in which the jaws are carried upon a sliding assembly within the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device as claimed in claim 11 in which the sliding assembly comprises a sliding casing into which the liner is advanced by the conveyor mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for moving the sliding assembly in a reciprocating motion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13 in which movement of the sliding assembly causes the conveyor mechanism to advance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a rack and pinion mechanism arranged to drive the conveyor as the sliding assembly is moved. ### Claim at position 16 16-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the jaw arrangement comprises an opposed pair of pivotally movable jaws and a mechanism for moving both jaws simultaneously in opposite rotational directions. ### Claim at position 18 22-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is formed in two parts enabling it to be opened to remove collected material. ### Claim at position 20 27-38. (canceled)