AU678918B2 - A refuse bin - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Original Application No: FIREBELT PTY LIMITED Idwall Charles Richards

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 308 Edward Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) "A Refuse Bin" Australian Patent Application No. 44943/93 filed 26 August 1993.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: THIS INVENTION relates to a refuse bin suitable for use in the storage and collection of refuse and in particular, but not limited to a refuse bin being suitable for use in conjunction with a side loading refuse vehicle.

At present, it is common for householders to be supplied with a proprietary refuse bin of the type having a pair of wheels so that the bin can be moved about in barrow or hand-cart fashion. This type of bin also has a hinged lid, Collection of refuse contained in these bins involves refuse vehicles which have semi- 0:09 automated or automated loading mechanisms which empty the contents of a bin s into a hopper of the vehicle, Customarily, the vehicles include some form of so*: 10 compaction mechanism to compact refuse into a tank on the vehicle.

:T With increased environmental awareness, recycling of domestic recyclables including cans, paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles has become popular.

Traditionally, collection of recyclables has been via regional can, glass or paper dump sites where householders are required to deliver the recyclables in 15 separated form to the regional dump sites. In order to increase the level of o participation in recycling, it has been proposed to collect recyclables direct from the homes and to this end, some local government authorities have provided householders with separate bins so that the recyclables can be separated on site by the householder and separate collection services are provided for each category of recyclable. This arrangement is expensive and difficulties arise in coordinating the householder with the collection service.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art which alleviates at least to some degree the aforementioned problems.

The present invention resides in a partition or divider for a refuse bin, the 3 partition or divider separating the bin into separate storage sections and having upstream and downstream portions relative to outflow of refuse from the bin, the downstream portion having refuse deflector means to deflect refuse as it leaves the bin.

The partition or divider is typically a removable or fixed wall and can be part of a removable container. The deflector means is typically an enlarged or flared downstream edge of the divider. The divider can be positioned anywhere within the bin and one or more dividers may be employed. Each divider may have a deflector means as described above.

The bin has a hollow drum-like body and can be of any shape but is -typically generally rectangular prismatic in configuration having a base and a top 040: portion with a closure member being coupled to the bin at or adjacent the top portion. The hollow drum-like body can be partitioned into a number of separate a compartments or storage areas. The body can have fixed or adjustable partitions 15 or can include removable containers which also serve to subdivide the body when operatively located within the drum-like body. Typically, upon moving the 0. closure member to the open position, the opening is exposed and typically, the opening is in the form of a plurality of selectable openings for the selective reception of different kinds of refuse in pre-designated locations. Thus, comingled recyclables and other garbage can be temporarily stored together in the bin but be stored separately in the separate storage regions. This arrangement enables each householder to separate the garbage into recyclable and nonrecyclable sections and therefore reduce the cost of separation that would otherwise arise from collection of mixed garbage and recyclables. Preferably, the opening is generally rectangular with two, three or more sub-openings defining the separate compartments. The sub-openings typically include a relatively large opening and at least one relatively small opening, The closure member can be of any form typically including sliding panels or hinged lids or multiple closure members. In one embodiment, the closure member includes a refuse separator passage means so that as the closure member moves to the open position, the refuse separator means moves through the passage means so that it does not interfere with the operation of the closure member whilst the closure member automatically moves to the open position, In another embodiment, the closure member is one of a plurality of independently operable closure members which move to their respective open positions without there being any interference between the closure members and the separator means. Typically, the passage means comprises a slot in the closure member or a space between adjacent closure members.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Figure i is a pictorial view illustrating cpes'tton of a side loading refuse vehicle involving the emptying of a bin t.coding to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cut-away perspective v3ew of the vehicle of Figure 1 illustrating a further stage in the emptying pruo:ess; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respective rear, front and perspective views illustrating in greater detail the bin shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a detailed view of part of the bin illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and Figures 7 and 8 are pictorial views illustrating an alternative bin according to the present invention; Figures 9, 10 and 11 are pictorial views illustrating a further alternative bin according to the present invention; Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are respective, side, perspective, part rear and part opposite side views of a further embodiment of a bin according to the present invention; 10 Figures 16 to 18 are respective elevation end and perspective views illustrating in more detaii a bin having a divider according to the present invention; and Figure 19 is a schematic view illustrating operation of a further embodiment of the bin according to the present invention.

15 Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a bin 10 shown being emptied into a refuse vehicle 11 using a loading mechanism 12 to which the bin 10 is temporarily attached during the emptying process. The bin 10 includes a hollow drum-like body 13 which is generally rectangular prismatic in shape. The bin includes a storage section in the drumlike body 13 and a refuse entry section comprising an opening 14 and a closure member in the form of a hinged lid 15. The lid 15 is depicted in Figure 1 as being open although it will be appreciated as the lid 15 is freely hinged to the drum-like body 13, it would normally be closed in the position illustrated. It has been illustrated as open for the purpose of illustrating the features of the lid which 6 are important to the operation of this preferred form of the invention.

Normally, the bin 10 is standing upright on its base 16 and its wheels 17, the lid 15 can be moved from a closed position covering the opening 14 to an open position such as illustrated in Figure 1 so that refuse can be deposited inside the drum-like body 13. Accordingly, the lid 15 can be moved between a closed position where the lid 15 can be manually moved in order for a user to deposit refuse into the drum-like body through the opening 14, to an open position where upon inversion of the bin to the position illustrated in Figure 2, the lid 15 swings •o o. freely about its hinged coupling to the drum-like body 13 so the bin empties into the hopper 18 of the vehicle 11.

The lid in this case is so made and arranged that as the bin is emptied, a e: refuse separator means in the form of a plate 19 located in the hopper 18 of the vehicle comes in to close proximity with the opening 14 but does not interfere with the operation of the lid 15. This is brought about in the illustrated oooo• 15 embodiment of Figure 1 by the lid 15 including a refuse separator means passage in the form of a slot 20. The lid 20 has leg portions 21 and 22 which are located either side of the separator plate 19 such that the lid 15 straddles the separator plate 19 enabling the lid 29 to swing open as refuse is discharged into the hopper 18.

The separator plate 19 can typically be used for various reasons, these might include a mechanism for distribution of garbage into optimum positions within the refuse vehicle 11 or as is the case in the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the bin 10 includes a divider panel 23 shown in phantom which divides the bin 1 0 into two storage regions 24 and 25 so that two different kinds -r o

I

of garbage can be stored in the bin 10. The refuse separator means 19 has been devised so that the contents of the bin 10 can be maintained separate and transported separately in the vehicle 11. The vehicle 11 typically has two tank sections for this purpose.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the bin 10 is illustrated in more detail and where appropriate, like numerals have been used to illustrate like features.

In Figures 3 and 5, the lid 15 is in an open position, while in Figure 4, the lid is closed over the opening 14. As can be seen, the divider panel 23 does not divide the interior of the bin into two equal sections but rather the storage region 10 24 is larger than the storage region 25. In most cases, domestic garbage will "include a smaller amount of recyclables and therefore, the relative sizes of the two storage regions 24 and 25 in this embodiment has been selected for domestic "use. This need not always be the case. The peripheral edge of the opening 14 comprises an upstanding endless flange 26 and the lid 15 includes a co-operating 0:000 'i 5 flange 27 which fits outside the flange 26 so that the lid 15 appropriately covers the opening 14 against ingress of water during rain and so forth. To this end, the partition 23 is suitably flared at its top portion 28 in order to support that portion of the flange 26. This aspect of the bin 10 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 6 and where appropriate, like numerals have been used to illustrate like features.

Figures 7 and 8 are two pictorial views of a different bin 29 which differs principally from the bin of Figures 3, 4 and 5 by the configuration of the closure member. In this case, the closure member only closes a portion of the opening.

In order therefore to cover the whole opening, two independently operable lids and 31 are used and these are coupled to the drum-like body 13 by respective 8 opposed hinges 32 and 33. The lids 30 and 31 are shown closed in Figure 7 while the lid 30 is shown open in Figure 8.

As for the previous embodiment, the bin 29 can also include a partition and this is illustrated at 33. In use, a loading mechanism engages the bin 29 below the front flange 34 in similar fashion to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and it will therefore be appreciated that the partition 33 will align with the divider plate 19 in similar fashion to the case illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Under these circumstances, the lids 30 and 31 will simply swing open in a So, sideways direction and the separator plate will not interfere with the operation of V the lids.

*•oo As for the previous embodiment, the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 *0o* includes an opening in the form of sub-openings 35 (and also underneath lid 31) S" each of which includes an upstanding peripheral flange 36 for opening 35 with o a similar flange under lid 31 and each of the lids 30 and 31 include downwardly •O•8• 15 depending flanges 37 so that the openings are closed against adverse weather conditions. This gives basically the same flange arrangement as illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figures 9, 10 and 11, there is illustrated a further embodiment 38 of a bin according to the present invention which bin 38 is, insofar as its emptying operation, mechanically equivalent to the bins 10 and 29 of the previous embodiments. The only difference between the bin 29 and the bin 38 is in the closure member configuration. In this case, two lids 39 and are also used but these are both hinged on the same side of the bin. A partition 41 divides the bin into two sections 42 and 43 for separate storage of garbage and 9 recyclables. During an emptying operation, partition 41 would align with the separator plate 19 in the refuse vehicle, The lids 39 and 40 are spaced by a separator means passage 44 defined by the spacing between the edges 45 and 46 of the lids. The lids 39 and 40 are free to swing about their pivotal axis at 47 notwithstanding that a separator plate moves between them engaging with the partition 41 which is located between the lids 39 and 40. As for the previous embodiments, the opening is divided into two sub-openings, each of which in this case are defined by respective peripheral flanges 48 and 49 which fit inside respective flanges 50 and 51 on the lids 39 and 40 also in similar fashion to the 10 flange arrangement shown in Figure 6.

o° Referring to Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15, there is illustrated a further embodiment 52 of a bin according to the present invention which bin 52 includes closure members employing a combination of the features of the previous embodiments. In the embodiment 52, two lids 53 and 54 are employed but the 15 interior of the bin 52 in this case is divided using two partitions 55 and 56 so that

C

three compartments 57, 58 and 59 are formed. It will be appreciated in this case that, during an emptying operation, in order to maintain the garbage contained in compartments 57, 58 and 59 separate as they are emptied into a hopper, a separator means having a corresponding T-shape would normally be aligned with the edges 60 and 61 of the partitions 55 and 56. So this can happen without interfering with the operation of the lids 53 and 54, the lids 53 and 54 are suitably spaced so that the separator can align with the top edge 60 of the partition 55, the lid 54 includes a slot 62 to accommodate another part of the separator.

+RA

LU

9 As can be seen, the bins of Figures 7, 10, 12 and 15 all illustrate dividers or partitions having a flared upper edge to deflect refuse as it leaves the bin, this will be dealt with further below in relation to Figures 16 to 19.

Referring to Figures 16 to 18, there is illustrated a refuse bin 70 for holding and temporarily storing recyclables 71 in a compartment 72 and other garbage 73 in a compartment 74. A householder can easily and simply separate recyclables from their normal household garbage. The compartments 72 and 74 are separated by a divider 75 which is illustrated in phantom in Figure 16 and partially shown in cut-away and in phantom in Figure 17, the top of the divider *to 10 75 can be seen in Figure 18. The divider includes a downstream portion 76 and an upstream portion 77 which is adjacent an opening 78 of the bin 70. A lid 79 can be opened to expose the opening 78. The lid is illustrated as open in Figures 1 16 and 18 and closed in Figure 17. The lid includes a slot 80 so that as the bin is emptied, a separator on a refuse vehicle travels through the slot 80 and aligns 15 with an upper edge 81 of the divider 75 to maintain contents of the bin separate as it is being emptied.

The divider 75 adjacent its downstream portion 77 includes a deflector means in the form of an arcuate surface 82 which it will be appreciated promotes flow of garbage 73 away from the other compartment 72 as the bin is being inverted and emptied. This avoids contamination.

As can be seen in the drawings and in particular Figures 16 and 17, the edge 81 is flared having a complimentary surface 83 which also serves to deflect recyclables away from the other compartment 74 as the bin is inverted and being emptied.

'r o 11 Referring to Figure 19, there is shown a portion 84 of a collection vehicle which includes a tank 85 divided into respective tank sections 86 and 87 by a panel 88 so that recyclables and garbage can be separately stored for transportation purposes. A bin 89 is shown partially inverted over a hopper which includes hopper portions 91 and 92 via which recyclables 71 and other garbage 73 can be transferred into the respective tank sections 86 and 87. A loading mechanism 93 automatically inverts .ie bin 89 over the hopper As was mentioned above, the divider according to the present invention can be situated in any direction in the bin and in the embodiment of Figure 19, the divider 94 is set at 900 to where the divider 75 of the previous embodiments was positioned relative to other parts of the bin. The lid 95 in this case does not include a slot 80 but free f .lls to its open position or is moved to its open t position prior to the bin being inverted. This can be accomplished manually or by some automatic means fitted to the loading mechanism 93. The vehicle 84 ooooo 15 includes a separator ramp 96 which includes an edge 97 disposed to be ooo operatively associated with the edge 98 of the divider 94 and in this embodiment, the loading mechanism 93 will stop so that the edge 98 is spaced from the edge 97 of the separator ramp 96. As can be seen, the flaring of the edge 98, the provision of deflecting surfaces 99 and 100 will deflect recyclables 71 and garbage 73 away from the edge 97 and therefore inhibit contamination du, 'Ig the emptying process and limits the possibility of garbage or recyclables becoming jammed between edges 97 and 98 and causing damage. Likewise, as the edges 97 and 98 do not have contact, there is minimal risk of damage.

It will be appreciated that whilst the above has been given by way of 12 illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I

S S

S

So SS 555

S

S

5* S o 0 0 o *oe ooo*o* "*222

M

Claims (19)

1. A partition or divider for a refuse bin, the partition or divider separating the bin into separate storage sections and having upstream and downstream portions relative to outflow of refuse from the bin, the downstream portion having refuse deflector means to deflect refuse as it leaves the bin.

2. The partition or divider according to claim 1 wherein the deflector means is an enlarged downstream edge of the partition or divider.

3. The partition of divider according to claim 1 wherein the deflector means is a flared downstream edge of the partition or divider. *ol4. the partition or divider according to anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein the partition of divider is a removable wall.

5. The partition or divider according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the "partition or divider is a fixed wall. ooooo

6. The partition or divider according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein it is a part of a removable container. S. S S" 7. The partition of divider according to any one fo claims 1 to 6 wherein the storage sections include a relatively large storage section and at least one relative smaller storage section.

8. The partition or divider according to any one fo claims 1 to 7 wherein the bin has an opening through which refuse may be deposition into or emptied from the bin and the partition or divider dividing the opening into two or more sub- openings.

9. The partition or divider according to claim 8 wherein thile sub-openings defining the storage sections. 14 The partition or divider according to claims 8 or 9 wherein the opening and/or sub-openings are substantially rectangular.

11. The partition or divider according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the refuse deflector means extends at least part way along an edge at the downstream portion of the partition or divider.

12. The partition or divider according to claim 11 wherein the refuse deflector means forms a part of an endless flange of the bin.

13. The partition or divide according to claim 12 wherein the endless flange extending substantially around the periphery edge of the bin and partway along at least the deflector means. •V

14. The partition of divider according to claim 13 wherein the endless flange is upstanding relative to the periphery edge. The partition or divider according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the part of the endless flange extending along the deflector means includes spaced S- flange portions •S

16. The partition or divider according to claim 15 wherein the spaced flange portions and the edge at the downstream portion forming a channel member.

17. A refuse bin having one or more partitions or dividers and the or at least one of the partitions or dividers is according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. The bin according to claim 17, wherein the bin includes a closure member which is normally in a closed position in relation to the storage sections and is openable for depositioning or dumping refuse.

19. The bin according to claim 18, wherein the closure member has a passage means which is arranged so that it overlie the deflector means when in the closed position. The bin according to claim 19, wherein the passage means is arranged so that the closure member moves to an open position without interference with a refuse separator means for separating refuse from the storage sections.

21. The bin according to claim 20, wherein the separator means is a part of a refuse vehicle and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to or against the deflector means in the process of emptying.

22. The bin according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the closure member is one of a plurality of independently operable closure members which move to their respective open positions without there being any interference between the too: closure members and the separator means.

23. The bin according to any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the passage means comprises a slot in the closure member or a space between adjacent too closure members. 0

24. A bin having a flared or enlarged divider substantially as described with 0 reference to the drawings. DATED this 18th day of March, 1996. FIREBELT PTY LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO I f ABSTRACT A bin suitable for holding refuse comprising an upright hollow drum-like body having a storage section and a refuse entry section, the refuse entry section having an opening through which refuse can be placed in the drum-like body, the drum-like body having a closure member coupled thereto and being moveable between a closed position where the closure member can be manually moved in order for a user to deposit refuse into the drum-like body through the opening and an open position where upon inversion of the bin, the closure member automatically moves to the open position so the bin empties, the closure member being so made and arranged that as the bin is emptied, a refuse separator means \can be located in close proximity to the opening without interfering with the operation of the closure member. A partition or divider for a refuse bin, the divider separating the bin into separate storage sections and having upstream and downstream portions relative to outflow of refuse from the bin, the downstream portion having refuse deflector means to deflect refuse as it leaves the bin,