EP0726871A1

EP0726871A1 - Disposal facility for loading objects into a container

Info

Publication number: EP0726871A1
Application number: EP93924112A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Viollet
Original assignee: Robin SA
Current assignee: Robin SA
Priority date: 1992-10-30
Filing date: 1993-10-27
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Also published as: CA2148263A1; FR2697515B1; FR2697515A1; WO1994010076A1; US5622468A

Abstract

Disposal facility for loading objects stored in a bin (4) into a container (3) and comprising actuating means for raising the bin (4) and bringing it above the container (3), rectracting the bottom of the bin (4) to allow the objects to fall into the container (3), closing the bin bottom and repositioning it on the ground in front of the container. The disposal facility is characterized in that it comprises two sub-assemblies (2, 2') consisting of a container (3, 3') and a bin (4, 4'), and in that the actuating means comprises a movable gantry (29) which moves in relation to the ground in the space occupied by the storage sub-assemblies (2, 2') in order to position itself above one or the other of said sub-assemblies. The gantry carries a movable carriage (41) enabling it to move in the space occupied by the container and the bin, and comprises a gripping unit which includes removable connecting means and bin actuating means.

Description

DEVICE DISPOSAL INSTALLATION BY LOADING IN A CONTAINER

The present invention relates to an installation intended for loading a large container open in its upper part. It relates more particularly to an improved installation.

Loading a container can present certain handling difficulties when it is large or when the elements to be loaded are heavy or bulky. In some cases, the person wishing to load the container is not experienced and does not have a specific device or machine such as a crane, a backhoe or any other universal machine intended for handling. Such a situation arises, for example when containers are installed in public places so that the population can unload bulky objects which they want to get rid of. The commonly adopted solution consists in arranging a quay whose edge is close to the upper part of the open container upwards, thus allowing any person to throw there the objects of which he wants to get rid.

A loading dock has many drawbacks. The development of a quay requires significant and costly work. Furthermore, the space occupied by the container, the quay and its access ramp is relatively large, and the installation is irremovable. As the platform is only flush with one side edge of the container, loading is always done on the same side and the container is not filled in a uniform manner. Quite often, objects pass between the container and the edge of the quay, and it is necessary to clean the premises frequently. Finally, a wharf is always a dangerous place which can lead to motor vehicle accidents or the fall of people, especially children.

Furthermore, the known installations intended for the public collection of waste do not meet the most basic criteria in terms of security, sanitation, architectural quality and environmental planning, and are therefore very poorly suited for installation in urban areas.

Such installations have already been perfected by the device described in European patent n ° 0329 574, but the present invention brings still other improvements by proposing an installation in which there are several containers with their associated tray, while the device loading is mobile and can be disconnected from the various tanks.

Thus, the installation for evacuating objects by loading objects stored in a bin into a container comprises actuation means intended to

- raise the tank and bring it above the container,

- retract the bottom of the tank to drop the objects in the container,

- close the bottom of the container and reposition it on the ground at the front of the container, and is according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises at least two sub-assemblies constituted by a container and a container, and in that that the actuating means comprise a mobile gantry moving relative to the ground in the space occupied by the storage sub-assemblies to come to be placed above one or the other of said sub-assemblies, said gantry carrying a mobile carriage for moving in the space occupied by the container and the container, and comprising a gripping assembly which comprises removable connection means and actuation means for the container.

According to an additional characteristic, each of the storage sub-assemblies is such that the container is placed on the ground in front of the corresponding container and spaced from the latter to create an intermediate space.

According to another characteristic, each of the storage sub-assemblies is arranged parallel to an adjacent and separate sub-assembly of it to create between two adjacent subsets, a longitudinal adjacent space.

According to a preferred arrangement, the gantry is movable on two guide and rolling paths or rails, a front rail extending transversely in the intermediate space between the containers and the trays, and a rear rail parallel to the front rail extending transversely behind the containers, and comprises four vertical posts carrying at least one horizontal beam extending forwards beyond the plane of the two front vertical posts and on which is mounted, movable in translation, the carriage.

According to other characteristics, the carriage (41) comprises a gripping assembly movable vertically to pass from a high position to a low position and vice versa, said movable gripping assembly comprising the removable connection means and the actuation means. The connection means comprising a connection motor actuating gripping jaws by means of a screw-nut system, while the tank actuation means comprise an actuation motor and a removable coupling.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the installation according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the installation, the gantry being shown in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a front view showing the gantry, with the carriage in the position of taking over a tray.

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3 showing more particularly the carriage with the tray. FIG. 5a shows the means for connecting the tank in the disconnected position.

Figure 5b is a side view illustrating a tray in the standby position placed on the ground.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the container in its position for releasing the waste in the container.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5b illustrating an improvement.

Figures 1 and 2 show an installation according to the invention, bearing the general reference (1) and which comprises at least one subassembly for storing materials (2). According to one of the characteristics of the invention, the installation (1) comprises several storage sub-assemblies (2), and by way of example as illustrated, it comprises four (respectively (2, 2 ', 2 ", 2"). Each storage sub-assembly (2) consists of a container (3) to which is added a corresponding tank (4). Said container having for example a capacity of 30 m 3 and a height of 2, 20 meters. It has the general parallelepiped shape and is open upwards in its upper part and includes a longitudinal and vertical plane (P3) of general symmetry. It includes a bottom wall (5), two longitudinal walls (6, 7) extending upwardly parallel to each other and parallel to the plane (P3), and two end walls (8, 9) perpendicular to the plane (P3) to form a main storage enclosure (10) of width (li) and of length (Li). Of course, the container can have any other shape without leaving the ca The container audit is associated with a tank (4) of lower capacity than that of the corresponding container. It is of substantially parallelepiped shape and includes a retractable bottom. According to a particular arrangement of the container, its outer length (Lb) is slightly less than the interior width (li) of the container. Its upper part is open at least partially upwards. It is, in its rest position, placed on the ground or on a suitable support, in front of the corresponding container to leave between said container and itself, an intermediate space (e). Note also that the tray (4) includes a plane (P4) of general symmetry and that in its rest position, the plane (P4) is perpendicular to the plane (P3). It consists of a peripheral wall (11) constituting its rigid structure and the bottom thereof consists of two walls (12, 13) whose respective lateral extensions (14, 15) are articulated on the end walls sides of the structure along axes (16, 17). The movements of spacing and approximation of the walls (12, 13) are controlled on each side by two lateral links (18, 19), one of the ends of which is articulated on the corresponding lateral wall, while the other of the ends is articulated on a nut (20) controlled by a vertical screw (21) whose rotation is controlled by a motor (22) linked to the mobile gripping assembly (23) and by means of a pinion system (24, 25, 26, 27) and a removable coupling (28). Figure 5b illustrates the tray in its closed position allowing the user to load it from the location indicated by the arrow (Fd), while Figure 6 illustrates it in its open position for waste release.

According to one of the characteristics of the invention, the installation (1) comprises a succession of storage sub-assemblies (2), that is to say several sub-assemblies, as can be seen more particularly in the figure 2. By way of example and as illustrated, it comprises a succession of four storage sub-assemblies (2) arranged side by side and in parallel. Thus, the planes of general symmetry (P3, P3 ', P3 ", P3" respectively of the first (2), second (2'), third (2 ") and fourth subset (2" ') are parallel. also that each storage sub-assembly is spaced from the adjacent storage sub-assemblies, to create between them an adjacent longitudinal space (E). Thus, the storage assembly of the installation comprises on the one hand a row of containers (3, 3 ', 3 ", 3'"), and on the other hand, a row of corresponding bins (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4"').

The actuation means consist of a mobile gantry (29) moving in the space occupied by the storage assembly. Thus, it moves on the ground transversely with respect to the different planes (P3, P3 \ P3 ", P3" on two guide and rolling paths (30, 31). Thus, the installation comprises for example two rails (30 , 31) extending perpendicularly to the different planes (P3, P3 ', P3 ", P3 '"), namely a front rail (30) extending in the intermediate space, that is to say between the containers (3, 3', 3 ", 3"') and the bins (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'"), and a rear rail (31) extending transversely behind the container. Note that the two rails serve both as a guide path and as a rolling path through the mobile gantry which includes four vertical posts (32, 33, 34, 35) whose lower ends include one or more wheels (36) as well as 'an electric control motor (37). The vertical posts (32, 33, 34, 35) carry an upper structure (38) constituted by a stiffening frame carrying in particular two horizontal upper beams (39, 40) intended to support and guide in movement a carriage (41) intended to actuating and maneuvering the tanks (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'"), as we will describe below. The upper beams each carrying a rack (39a, 40a).

Note that the distances between the different vertical posts of the gantry are greater than the external dimensions of the containers. Thus, the distance (DT) between the two front posts (33, 35) is greater than the outer width (le) of the containers, and the distance (DL) between the two front posts (33, 35) and the rear posts ( 32, 34) is greater than the external length (Le) of said containers. Note also that the distance (DT) between the two front posts (33, 35) is greater than the length (Lb) of the different trays (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4"') to allow passage during the handling.

Furthermore, the upper structure (38) constitutes a horizontal plane to extend forwards (AV) beyond the vertical plane of the front posts (33, 35), so that the two horizontal upper beams protrude towards the front to extend above the area occupied by the tanks and thus allow the trolley to be able to be placed above said tanks.

The carriage itself (41) comprises on each side, four rollers (42, 43, 44, 45) and an electric motor {Aβ to control the pivoting of the upper rollers (42, 43). Furthermore, said carriage comprises a vertical frame (47) carrying a movable gripping assembly (48) whose vertical movements towards the top and bottom are controlled by a motor (49) which actuates said assembly (48) by means of a screw-nut type transmission system (50, 51). Thus, it can move vertically to either descend according to (D) to place itself in its low position, or go up according to (M) to place itself in its high position. Said gripping assembly (48) comprising, at its lower part, means for connecting the tanks and actuating them. The actuating means are intended to actuate the bottom of the container to pass it from its closed standby position (FIG. 5a) to its active open position (FIG. 6), allowing the release of the waste and vice versa, from its position. active opening towards its closed waiting position, so that it is returned to its waiting position. The actuating means are constituted by an electric motor (22) and a coupling (28a), the tank carrying complementary coupling means (28b). The coupling means (28) are removable and consist of a part (28a) integral with the gripping assembly, intended to cooperate with the complementary part (28b) integral with the container. This coupling may be of the friction or interlocking type, or of any other suitable type.

The connection means are removable and are constituted for example by two lateral parts (52, 53) forming gripping jaws, movable between an open connection position and a closed connection position. The latter position being ensured by a sliding box (54) whose vertical movements are controlled by an electric motor (55) and by means of screw-nut systems (56, 57).

Figures 1, 2, 5a and 5b illustrate the installation in the standby position or the rest position. In this position, each of the bins (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'") having its bottom closed, is placed on the ground in front of its corresponding container (3, 3 ', 3 ", 3"), and the users can at leisure, deposit their waste in the bins intended for this purpose. According to an arrangement of the installation, it can be provided that each of the tanks is intended to receive a particular type of waste. For example, the first of the bins (4) can be intended to receive metals, the second bin (4 '), incinerable products, the third bin (4 "), glass, and the fourth bin (4"') , the diverse products. Thus, it is the user himself, who will sort and deposit his waste in the corresponding bins.

Once one of the bins is filled, the gantry is moved laterally to be placed above the corresponding storage sub-assembly.

When one or other of the tanks is full, the operator or the user moves the gantry (38) by starting the motors (37) for moving it, to bring it above the subset chosen. Then, if the trolley is waiting above the space occupied by the bins, namely in the front part of the gantry, the operator will only have to lower the mobile gripping assembly (48) to come and connect it to said container, then raise it to put it in the high position and move it backwards, to place it above the corresponding container, then open the bottom of the container to release the waste by making it fall into the container. The tray is then returned to its standby position and possibly be disconnected from the carriage.

It can also be noted that the device makes it possible to load the containers uniformly by releasing the waste in the desired part of the container. Note also that it is possible on the one hand to distribute the waste in the container thanks to the horizontal displacement of the bin, and on the other hand, to compact and compact said waste thanks to the downward displacement of said bin at the inside the container.

Another advantage of the loading installation described above is that it is compact, and therefore well suited to be installed in urban areas. In addition, it will be easy to enclose this installation to close the site and constitute an architecturally satisfactory whole within the framework of an urban plan.

Thus, the entire installation is for example limited peripherally by a peripheral barrier prohibiting, or at least limiting access to the site for unauthorized persons. Thus, the peripheral barrier comprises two lateral barriers (60, 61) continuous, while the front barrier and the rear barrier are discontinuous. Thus, the front barrier (62) consists of several front barrier portions (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e) to create interruptions intended to receive the trays and thus allow the users, to have access to them, and to be able to load them without hindrance. Similarly, the rear barrier (63) comprises behind each of the containers (3, 3 ', 3 ", 3'"), a movable door (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d, 63e) allowing access to the trucks intended for pick up the containers and dispose of them when they are full.

Figure 7 illustrates an improvement of the installation, according to which the tanks (4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'") are not placed directly on the ground (S), as shown in Figure 5b, but shaped so as to impose on said tanks, a determined position.

It is conceivable that such an installation is either directly accessible to users, or else entrusted to an attendant having, for example, keys for opening the site door and actuating the loading device.

Furthermore, the installation can be managed by computer. Indeed, beyond the only controls of the places of residence of the users currently carried out, it can be very interesting to know well the populations using the recycling centers, the nature and the quantity of their waste. Therefore, each user can be given an access card comprising a certain amount of information, such as name, address, profession, as well as data concerning the weight of waste authorized by the card. Thus, in this case, the user, before depositing his waste, presents his card to the caretaker who introduces it into a reader. The deposited waste is then automatically weighed and qualified and the card balance is then automatically calculated.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations, the present invention being susceptible of variants which will appear to man. art.

Claims

1. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container (3), objects stored in a bin (4), and comprising actuating means intended for

- raise the tank (4) and bring it above the container (3),

- retract the bottom (12, 13,) of the tank (4) to drop the objects in the container (3),

- close the bottom of the tank and reposition it on the ground at the front of the container, characterized in that it comprises at least two sub-assemblies (2, 2 ', ...) constituted by a container (3, 3 ', ..-) and a tank (4, 4', ...), and in that the actuating means comprise a mobile gantry (29) moving relative to the ground in the space occupied by the sub -storage assemblies (2, 2 ', ...) for placing themselves above one or the other of said subassemblies, said gantry carrying a movable carriage (41) for moving in space occupied by the container and the container, and comprising a gripping assembly (48) which comprises removable connection means (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and means for actuating the container (28, 22) .

2. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the storage sub-assemblies (2, 2 ', ...) is such that the tank (4, 4 ', ...) is placed in front of the corresponding container (3, 3', ...) and spaced from the latter to create an intermediate space (e).

3. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the storage sub-assemblies (2, 2 ', ...) is arranged parallel to an adjacent sub-assembly and separated therefrom to create between two adjacent sub-assemblies, a longitudinal adjacent space (E).

4. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to claim 3, characterized in that the gantry (29) is movable on two guide and rolling paths or rails (30, 31), a front rail (30) extending transversely in the intermediate space (e) between the containers (3, 3 ', .. .) and the tanks (4, 4 ', ...), and a rear rail (31) parallel to the front rail extending transversely behind the containers (3, 3', ...).

5. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gantry (29) comprises four vertical posts (32, 33, 34, 35) carrying at least one horizontal beam (39, 40) extending forwardly beyond the plane of the two vertical front posts (33, 35) and on which is mounted, movable in translation, the carriage (41).

6. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to claim 5, characterized in that the carriage (41) comprises a gripping assembly (48) movable vertically to pass from a high position to a low position and conversely, said mobile gripping assembly comprising the removable connection means (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and the actuation means (28, 22).

7. Installation, evacuation of objects by loading into a container, according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection means comprise a connection motor (55) actuating gripping jaws (52, 53) by the through a screw-nut system (56, 57).

8. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to claim 7, characterized in that the actuation means of the tank (28, 22) comprise an actuation motor (22) and a removable coupling ( 28a).

9. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire installation is limited peripherally by a peripheral barrier, the front barrier (62) of which is consisting of several barrier portions (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e) to create interruptions intended to receive each of the bins (4, 4 ', ...).

10. Installation for evacuating objects by loading into a container, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises four storage sub-assemblies (2, 2 ', 2 ", 2"') placed side by side.