Edelhoff Polytechnik Gmbh & Co.

Waste Management of North America, Inc.

Barmag Ag

Faun Umwelttechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg

Johannes Kirchhoff

Georg Sandkuhler

Wolfgang Hahmann

Markus Koch

Hans Klossek

Stefanie Schulte-Hinsken

Johannes Klossek

Holger Dreher

Georg Sandkühler

There is disclosed a system for determining the spatial position of an object with a video optical sensor which detects predetermined features of this object and generates signals which correspond to the features, the signals being then processed in an electronic computer connected to a control handling circuit of a handling apparatus, such as a garbage collecting truck provided with a pick-up claw and a lifting and tipping mechanism for picking up the garbage can which is provided with a receiving pocket for the pick-up claw. In the system, the object, such as the garbage can, is provided with at least three retroreflective marks arranged in a predetermined pattern, angularly related to each other and illuminated by a light source, and a semiconductor area having an area sensor disposed in juxtaposition to and in spatial association with the light source so that the pick-up claw is guided into the receiving pocket of the can for lifting and tipping thereof to empty it.

System for determining the spatial position of an object by means of a

An improved garbage truck is disclosed having an inlet opening leading into a tipping section, where a press reciprocally moves in the tipping section, guided along the side walls thereof, to propel garbage through an opening into a removable container. The tipping section has at least one lateral arm or wall reinforcing the side walls of the tipping section and is arranged above the press. A sensing element is arranged in the tipping section with generates a signal when there is a jam or when there are tilted or bulky objects, the signal stops the travel of the press or reverses the direction of the press to prevent damage to the garbage truck.

Garbage truck

A conveying and/or handling device for containers has a plurality of coupling claws, and latching members cooperating with the latter essentially in the manner of tongs. In order to provide for simple handling of all types of containers and to load and move them about, two coupling claws are provided on a transverse bearer or beam of a lifting carriage. The transverse bearer or beam carrying the coupling claws runs in vertical guideways on the lifting carriage for vertical motion and is driven by a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit. The lifting carriage is provided with at least one fork or supporting plate to be placed under the floor of the container. The carriage runs in guideways of the vertical beams of a lifting rig and is driven by a hydraulic drive unit.

Container handling equipment

A garbage-collecting truck provided with replaceable containers is disclosed. The truck includes replaceable containers that are adapted to be transferred to a trailer coupled to the truck.

A container truck, preferably a garbage-collecting truck, provided with a replaceable container which is connected by a releasable coupling to a tiltable frame which is pivotally movable by at least one first hydraulic fluid-operable piston-cylinder unit relative to the main frame of the chassis of the truck about a transverse axle, which axle connects the two frames and which axle is located at the rear end portion of the two frames. The container is movable along the tiltable frame on longitudinal tracks or on a slider for an extending movement toward the rear end of the truck or for a retracting movement toward the driver's cab of the truck by a second piston-cylinder unit. The truck also includes structure for switching the second hydraulic fluid-operable piston cylinder unit to a floating condition. The second fluid-operable piston-cylinder unit is connected through a plurality of lines to a directional valve, which, in addition to retracting and extending positions has a floating position in which the lines leading to the cylinder chambers are connected to each other and to a return line leading to a tank containing fluid under pressure. The line leading to the extending cylinder chamber contains a controllable non-return valve which prevents a return flow of fluid from that chamber and which is adapted to be deactivated by pilot lines for releasing the non-return valve when the second fluid-operable piston cylinder unit for moving the container on the tiltable frame is supplied with pressure fluid in an extending sense or the fluid-operating piston-cylinder unit for pivotally moving the auxiliary or tiltable frame is supplied with pressure fluid in a retracting sense.

Garbage-collecting truck having a replaceable container which is

An article handling apparatus is disclosed which comprises two independently controllable fluid actuated drives. The first fluid actuated drive comprises a cylinder and a differential piston which defines a large chamber and a smaller chamber. Also, a control system is provided which maintains a differential pressure between the large and small chambers in each of several operating positions. The second fluid actuated drive is mounted to the movable member of the first drive, and the second drive is controlled by fluid lines leading respectively to the large and small chambers of the first drive.

Growing community of inventors

Iserlohn, Germany

Johannes Kirchhoff