Patent Grant
11801997
The present invention generally relates to mobile collection systems for collecting bulk material such as paper.
Trucks often are used to collect large amounts of paper, such as confidential documents, from commercial or residential buildings and transport the shredded paper to a site where the paper is unloaded for recycling, destruction (e.g., shredding), or other purposes. Such trucks may have on-board equipment for shredding of the paper. Such trucks may use on-board auxiliary equipment to load and unload the paper.
Material is often loaded into motor vehicles to be transported to other locations, for example, for delivery, recycling or destruction. A typical motor vehicle used to transport material includes a bin tipper and one common storage area. Typically, the bin tipper will lift a material-filled bin to a position over the top of the common storage area, and subsequently tip the bin such that the material falls out of the bin and into the storage area.
It can be difficult to distribute material in a uniform and even manner into bins within the storage compartment of a truck. A typical truck may have a storage compartment configured to contain four gaylord boxes within the compartment. A gaylord is a pallet-sized box or bulk container used to store bulk quantities of materials.
It may be desirable to provide an apparatus that delivers material from the bin tipper to the gaylords so as to achieve a uniform and even distribution of the material amongst the gaylords. In particular, by achieving such a distribution, the payload within the storage compartment may be maximized. This allows for fewer trips to collect the same volume of material, and improves efficiency.
Systems and methods are provided for collecting and distributing material. In one embodiment, a collection system comprises at least one storage compartment comprising a plurality of regions. A bin is provided for transporting material from a first environment towards the storage compartment. The system comprises a diverter, wherein the diverter is dimensioned to distribute material among the plurality of regions within the storage compartment. The diverter has a first position during use in which at least a portion of the diverter is positioned below the bin when the bin is in a raised position for emptying material, and at least a portion of the diverter is positioned above the plurality of regions in the first position during use.
In another exemplary embodiment, a collection system comprises at least one storage compartment, and a bin for transporting material from a first environment towards the storage compartment. A diverter is dimensioned to distribute material within the storage compartment. The diverter has a first position during use in which the diverter distributes material emptied from the bin, and the diverter is configured to move from the first position during use to a second position when the diverter is being stowed.
In another example, a method for collecting material comprises providing at least one storage compartment comprising a plurality of regions, and moving a bin for transporting material from a first environment towards the storage compartment. The method further comprised using a diverter to distribute material among the plurality of regions within the storage compartment.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be within the scope of the invention, and be encompassed by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure.
In at least one embodiment, a diverter is provided as described herein. The diverter of at least one embodiment is configured to be provided in a mobile collection system including a vehicle. The diverter can be provided, for example, in a collection truck 20. As shown in
In at least one embodiment, a diverter is structured so as to be movable between at least a first position that is a use position and a second position that is a stowed position when the diverter is not in use.
In at least one embodiment, a diverter is configured to distribute a quantity of material across a plurality of gaylords and, preferably, in a substantially uniform distribution amongst a plurality of gaylords. For example, when there are four gaylords in the storage compartment of a truck, the diverter preferably is configured to distribute approximately a quarter of a quantity of material to each of the four gaylords.
In at least one embodiment, the diverter is structured so as to rest on and be supported by one or more gaylords when in the use position and/or the stowed position. However, in other embodiments, the diverter is configured to be used when it is not resting on any gaylord—that is, the diverter is in a use position when it is not contacting a gaylord. In some embodiments, a use position is one in which the diverter is not contacting any gaylord and is angled upward relative to an imaginary plane above the upper surface of the gaylords, so as to extend freely into the storage compartment.
Further, in at least one embodiment, the diverter is configured to be movable so as to obtain a plurality of positions. For example, in at least one embodiment, the diverter is movable to a fully extended position which is a use position, a fully retracted position which is a stowed position, and one or more intermediate positions. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, the diverter is operational in a plurality of positions, so as to be utilizable at, for example, a first use position, a second use position, a third use position, and so forth.
In at least one embodiment, the diverter is structured so as to rest on and be supported by one or more gaylords at least in the stowed position.
In at least one embodiment, the diverter is configured to be positioned within the storage compartment of the truck so as to distribute material when the bin tipper is centered (i.e., on center) with respect to the gaylords, but off center with respect to the storage compartment of the truck.
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in
In at least one embodiment, due to the weight of the diverter, the placement of the diverter on the sidewalls of the gaylords helps to lock the gaylords in position. Typically, there is a slight gap between gaylords within the compartment of a truck, e.g., about 1-2 inches. By positioning the diverter such that the notches in the diverter plates accommodate the sidewalls of the gaylords, the gaylords shift less during transit, and thereby do not enlarge the gap. Accordingly, there is a reduced risk of paper falling through the gaps. Further, the gaylords help in at least one embodiment to support the weight of the diverter.
In at least one embodiment, as shown, for example, in
Further, in at least one embodiment, the diverter is configured to move to the stowed position with a clearance between the stowed diverter and the gaylords. As shown in
When in the stowed position, both the ledge L and the remainder of the diverter D may be moved such that none of the diverter contacts the gaylords. In particular, when the gaylords are removed from the storage compartment from the truck, the clearance allows the gaylords to be taken out without contacting the diverter. Namely, the clearance facilitates easy removal of bins from the truck. In at least one embodiment, a pneumatic mechanism may be used to actuate movement of the diverter from the use position to the stowed position. As noted above, in at least one embodiment, the use position may be one in which the diverter does not contact any gaylord.
For example, a gas spring mechanism (e.g., gas cylinder C in
In at least one embodiment, the actuation allows side-to-side movement of the diverter D within a range of motion. Further, the diverter may be provided with the hinge H so as to pivot at the bin tipper T, as shown in
In at least one embodiment, the diverter may be so-called “smart” diverter with one or more actuators to change various configurations of the diverter. For example, the diverter may be outfitted with one or more ailerons, i.e., wing flaps, which are attached to one or more sides of the diverter in such a way that the wing flaps can be moved relative to the remainder of the diverter. The wing flaps may be moved up or down so as to change the diverter shape and/or orientation, and thereby control the flow of material via the diverter. Though described as being moved by actuators, the wing flaps also could be configured to be moved manually.
Moreover, in at least one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided that stores instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a control process for controlling actuation of any part of the diverter. For example, a microcomputer including a microprocessor may be used to control a diverter position, e.g., the timing of the movement from a first position to a second position, the degree of lift of a wing flap, the extension or retraction of a component, and so forth.
Further, in at least one embodiment, one or more surfaces of the diverter may have a textured or featured surface to lower friction and to promote the flow of material at a low slope angle. For example, the diverter may include a portion with an indented and/or upwardly oriented spherical shape. In some embodiments, a surface of the diverter may be at an angle of about 20° to about 40° with respect to an imaginary plane extending across the upper surface of the gaylords.
Further still, in at least one embodiment, a surface of the diverter may include integrated ball bearings and/or be provided with a low friction coating such as a graphite lubricant. For example, in some embodiments, one or more portions of the diverter may be coated with a dry film lubricant such as “Slip Plate” Graphite Lubricant made by Superior Graphite Corporation of Chicago, Ill.
Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a vibratory mechanism (vibrator) may be provided with the diverter (e.g., integrated therein) to vibrate the diverter and promote the flow of material from the diverter and into the gaylords.
In addition, in at least one embodiment, the diverter may be structured as a chute, with one or more baffles provided on an interior and/or exterior thereof to promote the flow of material and guide the material to the gaylords.
Further, in at least one embodiment, the diverter may be provided in a storage compartment in which there are no gaylords, or a combination of open space and gaylords. For example, when there are no gaylords, the diverter may be employed to distribute material more evenly across a walking floor of a vehicle.
As seen in
The diverter shown in
In at least one embodiment, a vertical splitter may be employed, including, for example, in the embodiment shown in
In at least one embodiment, e.g.,
In at least one embodiment, such as in
In at least one embodiment, such as in
In at least one embodiment, such as in
Further, in at least one embodiment, material that accumulates on the diverter may be distributed after the material within the gaylords accumulates to reach the diverter and when material starts to accumulate atop the diverter. In particular, lifting the diverter may be performed to cause the material to fall into a particular gaylord (e.g., the left gaylord shown in
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for the sake of clarity.
As may be utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to precise numerical ranges. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the inventions as recited in the appended claims.
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures of this application. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
The construction and arrangement of the elements of devices as shown in the exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied.
Additionally, the word “exemplary” is used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). Rather, use of the word “exemplary” is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Moreover, the advantages described herein are not necessarily the only advantages of the invention and it is not necessarily expected that every embodiment of the invention will achieve all of the advantages described.
The present patent document is a continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/923,720, filed Jul. 8, 2020, which claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/872,559, filed Jul. 10, 2019. All of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130259614 | Vasilescu | Oct 2013 | A1 |
| 20140314530 | Strom | Oct 2014 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220388770 A1 | Dec 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62872559 | Jul 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16923720 | Jul 2020 | US |
| Child | 17888180 | US |
