US 7,275,906 B1Granted

Waste/recyclables loading machine

AssigneeSP Industries, Inc.

InventorDennis C Pool

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A waste loading device for loading waste/recyclables into a container includes a base portion positionable at a loading station, a loading tube extending from the base portion and a pushing member. The loading tube has a discharge end and is configured to be received in a container positioned at the waste/recyclables loading device such that the discharge end is substantially within the container. The discharge end is at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the loading tube. The pushing member is movable along the loading tube to push waste along the loading tube to the discharge end and into the container. The discharge opening at the discharge end opens generally downwardly. The loading tube may extend approximately eight feet or more into the container when the container is positioned at the loading device.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A waste/recyclables loading system for loading waste or recyclables into a container, said waste/recyclables loading system comprising:

a container for receiving waste/recyclables therein, said container having walls extending therealong, said container comprising a transport truck trailer that is positionable at a loading position at a loading station;
a waste/recyclables loading device comprising a base portion, a loading tube and a pushing member;
said base portion being non-movably positioned at the loading station so as to be substantially non-movable along a support surface of the loading station;
said loading tube extending from said base portion and having a discharge end, a longitudinal axis of said loading tube being generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of said container when said container is positioned at the loading station, said container having an opening at a rear end thereof and said container being configured to receive said loading tube through said opening at said rear end of said container and into said container as said container is moved toward the loading position at the loading station, said loading tube being configured to be received in said container when said container is at the loading position such that said discharge end is substantially within said container, said discharge end having a discharge opening that is open at a downwardly facing angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said loading tube;
said pushing member being movable within and along said loading tube in response to an actuator to push waste or recyclables along said loading tube to said discharge end and out said downwardly angled discharge opening and into said container;
and
said loading device further comprising a flange extending radially outwardly and at least partially around said loading tube and generally at or near said discharge end, said flange being angled at a downwardly facing angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said loading tube, said flange comprising at least one plate portion that extends radially outward from said loading tube and at least substantially spans a gap between said loading tube and said walls of said container so as to provide a stop surface at least partially around said loading tube to limit movement of discharged waste or recyclables between said loading tube and said walls of said container and toward said base portion during loading of the waste or recyclables into said container.

4 more elements

A method for loading waste or recyclables into a container, said method comprising:

providing a waste/recyclables loading device having a base portion and a loading tube extending from said base portion, said loading tube having a discharge end opposite to said base portion, said discharge end having a discharge opening that is at a downwardly facing angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said loading tube, said loading device having a flange extending radially outwardly from said loading tube and at least partially around said loading tube and generally at or near said discharge end, said loading device including an actuator that is operable to move a pushing member within and along said loading tube;
non-movably positioning said base portion at a loading station so that said base portion is substantially non-movable along a support surface of the loading station;
generally aligning a longitudinal axis of a transport truck trailer with said longitudinal axis of said loading tube;
moving said transport truck trailer so as to receive said loading tube into said transport truck trailer and positioning said transport truck trailer at said waste/recyclables loading device such that said discharge end of said loading tube is substantially within said transport truck trailer, said transport truck trailer having a plurality of walls extending therealong, said flange extending radially outwardly from said loading tube and at least substantially spanning a gap between said loading tube and said walls of said transport truck trailer when said transport truck trailer is moved to receive said loading tube therein, said flange comprising at least two panel portions that provide a stop surface at least partially around said loading tube to limit movement of discharged waste or recyclables between said loading tube and said walls of said transport truck trailer and toward said base portion during loading of the waste or recyclables into said transport truck trailer;
loading waste or recyclables into said waste/recyclables loading device;
moving the waste or recyclables along said loading tube via movement of said pushing member within and along said loading tube in response to actuation of said actuator to said discharge end and into said transport truck trailer;
discharging the waste or recyclables from said discharge opening in a generally downward direction from said angled discharge opening;
and
limiting movement of the discharged waste or recyclables between said loading tube and said walls of said transport truck trailer and toward said base portion via said stop surface of said flange.

6 more elements

A waste/recyclables loading system for loading paper waste or recyclables into a truck trailer, said waste/recyclables loading system comprising:

a truck trailer for receiving waste/recyclables therein, said truck trailer being positionable at a loading position at a loading station;
a waste/recyclables loading device comprising a base portion, a loading tube and an actuator;
said base portion being non-movably positioned at a loading station so as to be substantially non-movable along a support surface of the loading station;
said loading tube extending from said base portion and having a discharge opening at a discharge end, a longitudinal axis of said loading tube being generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of said truck trailer when said truck trailer is positioned at the loading station, said truck trailer having an opening at a rear end thereof and said truck trailer being configured to receive said loading tube through said opening at said rear end of said truck trailer and into said truck trailer as said truck trailer is moved toward the loading position at the loading station, said loading tube being configured to be at least approximately six feet into said truck trailer from said rear of said truck trailer when said truck trailer is at the loading position;
said loading device further comprising a flange extending radially outward and at least partially around said loading tube and at or near said discharge end of said loading tube, said flange being adjustable to adjust a degree of radial extension of said flange relative to said longitudinal axis of said loading tube to adapt a radial dimension of said flange for use in different sized truck trailers, said flange at least substantially approaching at least one wall of said truck trailer to at least partially seal said flange at said at least one wall of said truck trailer when said flange is adjusted to a selected degree of radial extension, said at least one wall comprising at least one of a side wall, a floor and a ceiling of said truck trailer;
said loading device further comprising an input at an end of said loading tube at said base portion, said input being configured to receive paper waste or recyclables therein;
and
said actuator being extendable and retractable to move a push plate to move received paper waste or recyclables from said input and along said loading tube toward said discharge end and out said discharge opening and into said truck trailer.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A waste/recyclables loading system for loading waste or recyclables into a container, said waste/recyclables loading system comprising:

a container for receiving waste/recyclables therein, said container having walls extending therealong, said container comprising a transport truck trailer that is positionable at a loading position at a loading station;
a waste/recyclables loading device comprising a base portion, a loading tube and a pushing member;
said base portion being non-movably positioned at the loading station so as to be substantially non-movable along a support surface of the loading station;
said loading tube extending from said base portion and having a discharge end, a longitudinal axis of said loading tube being generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of said container when said container is positioned at the loading station, said container having an opening at a rear end thereof and said container being configured to receive said loading tube through said opening at said rear end of said container and into said container as said container is moved toward the loading position at the loading station, said loading tube being configured to be received in said container when said container is at the loading position such that said discharge end is substantially within said container, said discharge end having a discharge opening that is open at a downwardly facing angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said loading tube;
said pushing member being movable within and along said loading tube in response to an actuator to push waste or recyclables along said loading tube to said discharge end and out said downwardly angled discharge opening and into said container;
and
said loading device further comprising a flange extending radially outwardly and at least partially around said loading tube and generally at or near said discharge end, said flange being angled at a downwardly facing angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said loading tube, said flange comprising at least one plate portion that extends radially outward from said loading tube and at least substantially spans a gap between said loading tube and said walls of said container so as to provide a stop surface at least partially around said loading tube to limit movement of discharged waste or recyclables between said loading tube and said walls of said container and toward said base portion during loading of the waste or recyclables into said container.

4 more elements