Loading apparatus for emptying containers into a common receptacle

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped and having a tilting axis about which said frame can be tilted;
• gripper means on said frame engageable with said container for enabling entrainment of the container with the frame;
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against said container when said container is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of said container;
• connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a transport unit adapted to retain and support said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device, said connecting means including a support which is substantially vertical in a container-pickup position of said frame and said unit and connected said gripper means and said bracing means to said tilting frame, said entraining device including means forming a universal-type of swivel joint connecting said support to said tilting frame, and a rubber-metal mobility-limiting element.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped and having a tilting axis about which said frame can be tilted;
• gripper means on said frame engageable with said container for enabling entrainment of the container with the frame;
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against said container when said container is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of said container;
• connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a transport unit adapted to retain and support said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device, said connecting means including a support which is substantially vertical in a container-pickup position of said frame and said unit and connected said gripper means and said bracing means to said tilting frame, said entraining device and said position-restoring and alignment means being formed by a coupling between said unit and said frame which automatically generates a reporting force upon displacement of said unit into said off-normal position counteracting the latter displacement, said coupling including a rubber-metal device in the form of a universal joint.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped and having a tilting axis about which said frame can be tilted;
• gripper means on said frame engageable with said container for enabling entrainment of the container with the frame;
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against said container when said container is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of said container;
• connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a transport unit adapted to retain and support said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device, said connecting means including a support which is substantially vertical in a container-pickup position of said frame and said unit and connected said gripper means and said bracing means to said tilting frame, said entraining means forming a joint between said support and said frame and said position-restoring and alignment means are formed by a spring-biased centering device on said frame connected to said unit away from said joint.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped and having a tilting axis about which said frame can be tilted;
• gripper means on said frame engageable with said container for enabling entrainment of the container with the frame;
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against said container when said container is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of said container;
• connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a transport unit adapted to retain and support said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device, said connecting means including a support which is substantially vertical in a container-pickup position of said frame and said unit and connected said gripper means and said bracing means to said tilting frame, said gripper means including a receiving bar extending generally parallel to a tilting axis of said frame and adapted to at least partly receive said container, said bracing means includes a bracing bar substantially parallel to said receiving bar, and said apparatus includes a plurality of electrical contacts spaced apart on said bars for issuing a signal automatically causing the lifting and dumping of the container upon detection of the engagement of said container by said unit as signalled by at least three of said contacts.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped and having a tilting axis about which said frame can be tilted;
• gripper means on said frame engageable with said container for enabling entrainment of the container with the frame;
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against said container when said container is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of the container;
• connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a transport unit adapted to retain and support said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device, said connecting means including a support which is substantially vertical in a container-pickup position of said frame and said unit and connected said gripper means and said bracing means to said tilting frame, said apparatus having an outrigger arm extending from a rubbish-collecting vehicle and carrying said tilting frame for tilting thereof about a tilting axis, and means for raising and lowering said outrigger arm.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of at least one container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a common carrier provided with means for lifting same for container dumping and with a bracket adapted to be approached to a single large container or a plurality of small containers in side by side relationship to be dumped;
• a transverse support beam pivotally mounted on by a rotator element on said bracket for swinging movement about at least a substantially vertical axis;
• and
• a plurality of container-engaging mechanisms spaced apart along said support beam, each of said container-engaging mechanisms comprising:
• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped,
• gripper means on said frame engageable with a container juxtaposed with said tilting frame for enabling entrainment by the frame of the container juxtaposed with the frame,
• bracing means on said frame adapted to bear against the container juxtaposed with the frame when said container juxtaposed with the frame is engaged by said gripper means to take up at least part of the weight of the container juxtaposed with the frame,
• respective connecting means on said frame joining said gripper means and said bracing means into a respective transport unit,
• a respective entraining device for coupling each of said transport units with a respective one of said tilting frames while permitting limited mobility of each said transport unit relative to the respective said tilting frame,
• position-restoring and alignment means between each said unit and the respective said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting each said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to the respective said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of each unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said gripper means with the container juxtaposed with the respective frame, and
• arresting means on each frame actuatable for locking the respective said unit in its said normal position upon displacement of each unit into its normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as each tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing each unit upon lowering of said tilting frames for the limited mobility of each unit relative to the respective frame permitted by the respective entraining device;
• restoring means between said beam and said carrier for returning said beam to a normal starting orientation upon lifting of said beam about said substantially vertical axis;
• and
• blocking means acting upon said beam for fixing same in said normal starting orientation and releasable to permit swinging movement of said beam about said substantially vertical axis.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of a container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped;
• a gripping and support plate on said frame engageable in a pocket formed on said container to enable lifting and tilting thereof, said gripping and support plate forming a transport unit for said container;
• an entraining device for coupling said transport unit with said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of said transport unit relative to said tilting frame;
• position-restoring and alignment means between said unit and said tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said tilting frame, said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting said unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by said entraining device upon engagement of said plate with said container;
• and
• arresting means on said frame actuatable for locking said unit in said normal position upon displacement of said unit into said normal position by said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frame is lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said unit upon lowering of said tilting frame for the limited mobility of said unit relative to the frame permitted by said entraining device.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of at least one container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a common carrier provided with means for lifting same for container dumping and with a bracket adapted to be approached to a single large container or a plurality of small containers in side by side relationship to be dumped;
• a transverse support beam pivotally mounted on by a rotator element on said bracket for swinging movement about at least a substantially vertical axis;
• and
• a pair of container-engaging mechanisms mounted on said support beam on opposite sides of said substantially vertical axis, each of said container-engaging mechanisms comprising:
• container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped;
• a respective gripping and support plate on said frame engageable in a pocket formed on a said container juxtaposed with the respective frame to enable lifting and tilting thereof, said gripping and support plate forming a transport unit for said container juxtaposed with the respective frame,
• a respective entraining device for coupling each said transport unit with the respective said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of the respective said transport unit relative to the respective tilting frame, and
• a respective position-restoring and alignment means between each said unit and the respective tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said respective tilting frame, each said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting each unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by the respective said entraining device upon engagement of said plate with said container;
• restoring means between said beam and said carrier for returning said beam to a normal starting orientation upon lifting of said beam about said substantially vertical axis;
• and
• blocking means acting upon said beam for fixing same in said normal starting orientation and releasable to permit swinging movement of said beam about said substantially vertical axis.

A container-dumping apparatus for the emptying of at least one container into a collecting receptacle, especially for the dumping of refuse bins into a refuse-collecting truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a common carrier provided with means for lifting same for container dumping and adapted to be approached to a single large container or a plurality of small containers in side by side relationship to be dumped;
• and
• a pair of container-engaging mechanism mounted on said support beam on opposite sides of said substantially vertical axis, each of said container-engaging mechanism comprising:
• container tilting frame adapted to be approached to a container to be dumped;
• a respective gripping and support plate on said frame engageable in a pocket formed on a said container juxtaposed with the respective frame to enable lifting and tilting thereof, said gripping and support plate forming a transport unit for said container juxtaposed with the respective frame,
• a respective entraining device for coupling each said transport unit with the respective said tilting frame while permitting limited mobility of the respective said transport unit relative to the respective tilting frame,
• a respective position-restoring and alignment means between each said unit and the respective tilting frame and effective upon lifting of said respective tilting frame, each said unit and the container carried thereby for shifting each unit into a predetermined normal starting position relative to said frame for dumping of said container upon a displacement of said unit from said predetermined normal starting position into an off-normal position as permitted by the respective said entraining device upon engagement of said plate with said container, and
• respective arresting means on each said frame actuatable for locking the respective said unit in the respective said normal position upon displacement of the respective said unit into its said normal position by the respective said position-restoring and alignment means as said tilting frames are lifted for dumping of said container and for releasing said units upon lowering of said tilting frames for the limiting mobility of said units relative to the frames permitted by said entraining devices, said carrier being provided with a transverse beam limitedly swingable by a rotator element about a substantially vertical axis and forming a two-arm lever, each of said plates being mounted on a respective arm of said lever.