Refuse vehicle packing system

A rear-discharging refuse collection vehicle including a vehicle body comprising:

• (a) a charging area for receiving refuse to be collected;
• (b) a refuse storage volume rearward of said charging area;
• (c) a refuse receiving and packing arrangement further including:
• (1) a packing system including a packer panel operable along and in said charging area for urging refuse material received in said charging area into said storage volume, said packing system further including a follower panel pivotally attached to a rear portion of and extending behind said packing panel and which moves with said packer panel for preventing refuse from being deposited behind said packer panel when said packer panel is extended forward toward said storage volume, said follower panel further comprising a roller device for engaging a wall of said vehicle body;
• (2) an independent wiper assembly mounted in said charging area and including a wiper blade member positioned with a lower surface mounted adjacent to the upper surface of said packer panel and said follower panel, as extended, said wiper blade member being disposed so that said lower surface of said wiper blade wipes material from both said follower panel and said packer panel as said follower panel and said packer panel move beneath said wiper blade when said packer panel is retracted from an extended position to a retracted position and wherein said wiper member comprises a relatively inert, abrasion-resistant polymer material.