Trash can dumping apparatus

Low profile trash container dumping apparatus for semi-automatically dumping refuse from trash bins, trash containers and trash receptacles into a refuse sink while permitting close physical access to the trash sink for the manual dumping of trash cans into the trash sink, the trash bins having laterally extending studs, the trash containers having upper and lower lifting engagement members and the trash receptacles having a mechanically engageable lip, the dumping apparatus comprising:

• a support structure adjacent the refuse sink;
• clamping and lifting apparatus mounted to the support structure, comprising:
• a frame, having first and second ends, pivotally mounted at the first end to the support structure for movement about a common axis;
• a trash receptacle lip engaging assembly mounted to the frame and including a clamping member movable along a path between a lip release position and a lip engaging position;
• and
• a trash container engagement member engaging assembly including lower hook means, mounted to the frame, for engaging the lower engagement member and upper hook means, mounted to the clamping member for movement therewith, for engaging the upper engagement member, the lower and upper hook means displaceable between extended, operational positions, for use when dumping trash containers, and displaced, non-operational positions, so not to interfere when dumping trash bins and trash receptacles;
• means for driving the clamping member and the upper hook means therewith along the path;
• means for rotating the frame about the common axis between a loading position and a dumping position;
• and
• first and second spaced apart cradle assemblies, coupled to the frame for rotation therewith, for engaging the trash bin studs when the trash bin is adjacent the clamping and lifting apparatus.