Lift unit for lifting and emptying waste containers
AssigneeToter, Inc.
InventorsKurt W. Niederer, John T. Prout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift unit for lifting and inverting waste containers for emptying. The waste containers are of the type having an enlarged lip proximate the mouth of the container. The lift unit includes grippers for gripping the enlarged lip of the container and lifting arms for lifting and inverting the waste container for emptying while gripped by the enlarged lip. The lift unit includes a support for supporting the side of the waste container while the container is being lifted and inverted. The grippers are carried by the lifting arms. The pair of opposed lifting arms can be adjusted to waste containers of different heights and widths.
Claims17
A lift unit for lifting and inverting a waste container for emptying, the waste container being of the type having an enlarged lip extending along the length of opposing sides of the container proximate the mouth of the container, and comprising:
- (a) gripping means for gripping the enlarged lip of the container along the opposing sides of the container;
- (b) lifting means for lifting and inverting the waste container for emptying while the enlarged lip is gripped by the gripping means, said gripping means being carried by said lifting means, and said lifting means including a pair of laterally opposed lifting arms for partially encircling the waste container in a non-gripping relation;
- and
- (c) said gripping means comprising an elongate lower gripper and a cooperating elongate upper gripper for gripping the lip of the waste container therebetween, both of said upper and lower grippers carried by respective ones of said pair of laterally opposed lifting arms and extending laterally along opposing sides of the container when the container is in a lifting position.
A method of lifting and emptying a waste container of the type having an enlarged lip proximate the mouth of the container, and comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a lift unit having a mounting frame with a pair of laterally opposed, spaced-apart lifting arms for receiving in partially encircling relation a waste container therebetween;
- (b) providing an upper gripper and a lower gripper, both carried by an arm of said pair of lifting arms and extending laterally along opposing sides of the container when the container is in lifting position;
- (c) gripping the enlarged lip of the waste container between the upper and lower grippers on each of the pair of lifting arms;
- (d) lifting the waste container by the enlarged lip to a raised and inverted position for emptying;
- (e) lowering the waste container from the raised and inverted position;
- and
- (f) releasing the grip of the upper and lower grippers on the enlarged lip to permit removal of the waste container from between the lifting arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.