Tilting bin handler

In a container grabbing and unloading apparatus including a pivoting support arm, a container grabbing means comprising:

• (a) a handler base connected to the pivoting support arm;
• (b) a swivel mount carrying a container engaging means pivotally attached to said handler base and adapted to pivot in a vertical plane to tilt and thereby raise and lower said container engaging means;
• (c) container clamping means having a pair of opposed flanges, one carried by said container engaging means and one carried by said handler base comprising a first flange attached to said container engaging means and a second flange attached to said handler base, the height of said first flange being adjustable for engaging and capturing a handling protrusion on a container of interest and further adjustable for clamping said handling protrusion between said first and said second flanges;
• and
• (d) actuator means connected to said swivel mount for pivoting said swivel mount to tilt said container engaging means to adjust the position and height of the said first flange.

A vehicle mounted container handling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an extensible boom attached to a vehicle and having a free end carrying a platform;
• (b) a support arm pivotally attached to said platform;
• (c) a base connected to said support arm;
• (d) a swivel mount carrying a container engaging means pivotally attached to said handler base and adapted to pivot in a vertical plane to tilt said container engaging means between a lowered and a raised position;
• (e) actuator means connected to said swivel mount for pivoting said swivel mount to tilt said container engaging means to thereby adjust the position and height of said container engaging means;
• and
• (f) a container clamping means including a first moving flange carried by said swivel mount for engaging a handling protrusion of a container of interest a second flange carried by said base and stationary relative thereto, the operation of said swivel mount causing said first flange to engage and disengage said handling protrusion further to cause and said first and second flanges to open and close relative to each other about said handling protrusion.

A container handling apparatus comprising:

• (a) a support arm pivotally attached to a platform and a handler base connected to said support arm;
• (b) a swivel mount carrying a container clamping means pivotally attached to said handler base and adapted to pivot in a vertical plane to tilt a container engaging means adjustably between a lowered and a raised position;
• (c) said container clamping means comprising a pair of opposed flanges carried by said swivel mount and oppositely disposed for engaging spaced parallel upper and lower handling protrusions attached to a container of interest, said pair including an upper flange attached to said swivel mount, said upper flange pivoting with said swivel mount thereby being height adjustable for engaging and capturing an upper handling protrusion on a container of interest at varying levels, and a lower flange pivotally attached to said swivel mount to pivot relative thereto between a retracted and a handle-engaging position to engage a lower handle;
• (d) actuator means connected to said swivel mount for pivoting said swivel mount to tilt said container engaging means to adjust the height of the said first flange;
• and
• (e) lower flange pivoting means for pivoting said lower flange, said pivoting means being selected from the group consisting of a fixed flange locking member secured to said handler base and a fluid-operated linear actuator, said lower flange pivoting means being operable for fully securing said container to said swivel mount prior to the lifting of said container and throughout a lift and dump cycle.