A system and method for collecting domestic refuse

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for collecting domestic refuse, wherein the system comprises: a collecting container (4) which is placed on or in the public highway and which is provided with an insertion opening for insertion of domestic refuse, and an engaging member for allowing engagement thereon of a lifting member; a truck (1) which is provided with a loading space (2) for emptying therein the content of the collecting container and with crane means (5) provided with a crane for carrying the collecting container above an unloading opening (3) for the collecting container; and position-determining means (10,T) for determining the position of the crane means of the truck relative to the collecting container.

Description: Particularly in the Netherlands, but also elsewhere, domestic refuse, which may or may not be separated into fractions such as glass, paper, KGW (Kitchen and Garden Waste) and remaining refuse, is collected to an increasingly large extent in underground containers which are emptied at regular intervals using a crane and a truck. In some cases the truck is provided with an open load container, whereby the investment in the truck can remain comparatively limited. In advanced embodiments the refuse truck is provided with pressing means for compressing the collected domestic refuse, so that the number of journeys to a waste dump can remain limited. In both cases the speed of emptying the collecting container depends on the skill of the driver of the truck, who must also operate the crane. Incorrect operation of the crane means can also result in damage to the container. Document WO 96/39347 discloses a system according to the preamble of claim 1. This known system relates to containers above ground, which are relatively small and light so that the amount of possible damage is limited when the container swings. The present invention has for its object to obviate the above stated drawbacks, and/or to provide a system for collecting domestic refuse and a method for emptying one or more collecting containers into a loading space of a refuse truck in a short time and in a reliable manner. The present invention provides a system for collecting domestic refuse according to claim 1. The system according to the present invention is applied with the container placed underground, since the container must be lifted out of the opening in the ground in the most upright possible position, wherein the arm of the crane pivotable on the truck must simultaneously pivot upward as well as be extended. During lowering of the container in the upright position the arm is telescoped inward as it pivots downward. When the position-determining means are used the whole operation, including the upright lifting and lowering of the underground container, can take place automatically from control means of the truck. During the operation the driver of the truck can then for instance remove street litter in the vicinity of the underground collecting container and/or supervise the surrounding area, while being able to interrupt the operation if necessary with for instance a remote control. The present invention further provides a method according to claim 5 for emptying a collecting container for collecting domestic refuse. Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention; and fig. 2 shows a perspective view corresponding with the view of fig. 1 of a second preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention. A truck 1 (fig. 1) is provided with a loading space 2 which is provided in a manner not shown with pressing means for compressing the domestic refuse placed in the loading space, in addition to a loading funnel 3 above which a container 4 emptying on the underside can be discharged. Further arranged on truck 1 is a crane 5 which can pivot close to the cab 6 of the truck and an extendable arm 8. An above-ground part 9 of the container can be engaged with a hook on the end of arm 8. In road surface L is arranged a marked tile T which defines a position relative to container 4 with the above-ground part 9. If the truck is placed with its leg 10 above tile T, the position of the truck relative to the container is known. A program can thus be incorporated in the control means for the crane for automatically engaging the above-ground part 9 of container 4, in order to hoist it in upright position out of opening O, carry it above for instance corner points provided with sensors 11 of funnel 3, open the discharge flap on the underside of the container and re-place the container in upright position in opening O. These movements can take place as efficiently as possible, i.e. swinging of the container on the arm of the crane can be compensated by control thereof in pre-programmed manner by opposed movements of this arm. Emptying of such a container can thus take place more quickly and irrespective of the skill of the operative person. It will be apparent that the position of the truck relative to the container can be determined in many ways, for instance by means of magnetic elements arranged in the road surface, by means of infrared radiation, wherein a reflector is then arranged on the above-ground part of the container, or by other types of radiation, wherein it is noted that it is important that it be possible in the preferred embodiment to lift the container over a car parked between it and the truck and empty the container into the truck. In the preferred embodiment according to fig. 2, wherein the same reference numerals are used as far as possible as in fig. 1, a transmitter 21 is arranged on extensible jib 8, for instance on the outer end thereof, which transmitter transmits radiation R which is reflected via a reflective surface 22 on the top side of the above-ground part of a container 4 to a radiation pick-up 23 likewise arranged on the arm 8. The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof; the rights sought are defined by the following claims.

Claims: System for collecting domestic refuse, wherein the system comprises: a collecting container (4) which is placed on or in the public highway (2) and which is provided with an insertion opening (9) for insertion of domestic refuse and an engaging member for allowing engagement thereon of a lifting member; a truck (1) which is provided with a loading space (3) for emptying therein the content of the collecting container (4) and with crane means (5) provided with an arm (8) for carrying the collecting container (4) above an unloading opening for the collecting container (4); and position-determining means for determining the position of the crane means (5) of the truck (1) relative to the collecting container (4); control means for controlling the crane means (5) on basis of the information obtained from said position determining means, characterised in that : the collecting container (4) comprises a part placed underground; and said control means provide for pre-programmed controlling for compensating swing movements of the collecting container (4) by opposed movements of the arm (8) by simultaneously extending and upward pivoting of the arm (8) or telescoping inward as it pivots downward. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the truck (1) comprises pressing means for compressing the waste discharged out of the collecting container (4) into the loading space (3). System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the position-determining means comprise a transmitter (21) for transmitting radiation such as infrared radiation, ultrasonic radiation or radar radiation, in addition to reflection means (22) arranged on the collecting container (4) for reflecting the radiation, and a pick-up (23) arranged on the truck (1) for picking up the reflected radiation. System as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein the position-determining means comprise one or more marker elements(T) arranged in the road surface (L) of the position in relation to which the collecting container (4) disposed in a fixed position is known, in addition to detection means arranged on the truck (1) for detecting the position of the truck (1) relative to one or more marker elements (T). Method for emptying a collecting container (4) for collecting domestic refuse which is placed in an opening in the ground (0) using a truck (1) with crane means (5) provided with an arm (8), comprising the steps of: determining the position of the crane means (5) of the truck (1) relative to the collecting container (4) by position-determining means; lifting the collecting container (4) out of the opening in the ground (0) on basis of the information obtained from the position determining means; carrying the collecting container (4) further to a discharge position above an unloading opening of the truck (1) and compensating swinging movements by opposed movements of the arm (8); displacing the collecting container (4) from the discharge position to the rim of the opening in the ground (0) and compensating swinging movements by opposed movements of the arm (8); whereby the opposed movements are controlled by control means of the truck (1) for pre-programmed controlling the arm (8) by simultaneously extending and upward pivoting of the arm (8) or telescoping inward as it pivots downward.

Inventors: RIENSTRA DOEKELE, RIENSTRA, DOEKELE
Applicants: BAMMENS BV, BAMMENS B.V.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65F3
IPC codes: B65F3