Gate opening / closing device in waste push-in system for container

Abstract

To provide a gate opening / closing device in a waste push-in system for a container, which prevents leakage of contents in a container by locking a gate plate in a closed position with a locking member, thereby preventing the gate plate from rising up and rattling against a gate support frame due to vibrations caused by traveling, and also enables automatic switching between locking and unlocking of the locking member with a simple configuration that utilizes a fork fixed to the opening / closing drive member.SOLUTION: A locking member 80, which is normally held in a locking position 80A that locks a gate plate 22 in a closed position 22Z, is provided on the gate plate 22 so as to move to an unlocked position 80B in conjunction with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah or immediately before being inserted, and the locking member 80 has an engaging portion 81 that engages with an engaged portion 25 of a gate support frame 21 to maintain the locking position 80A when in the locking position 80A, and the engagement is released in response to movement of the locking member 80 to the unlocked position 80B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 24

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gate opening and closing device, in particular a gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container, which includes a container having at one end an entrance that is opened and closed by a gate plate and a gate support frame that slidably supports the gate plate in a predetermined opening and closing direction, a compactor that can push waste into the container through the entrance, an opening and closing drive device that has an opening and closing drive member that can drive the gate plate to open and close and is disposed in the compactor or between the compactor and the container, and a container drive device that drives the container to move toward and away from the compactor. [Background technology]

[0002] The above-mentioned waste pushing system into the container is conventionally known, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the gate opening and closing device in the waste pushing system of Patent Document 1, a fork 25 that can be inserted into and removed from an insertion hole 28 (receiving hole) provided on the upper outer periphery of a lid body 19 (gate plate) is fixed to a lifting cylinder as an opening and closing drive member, and the fork 25 is inserted into the insertion hole 28 as the container approaches the compactor, thereby interlocking the gate plate with the opening and closing drive member, so that the gate plate can be raised and lowered by the opening and closing drive member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 58-23284 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the gate opening and closing device of Patent Document 1, the fork 25 is simply inserted into the insertion hole 28 to open and close (raise and lower) the gate plate 19 when the waste is pushed in to bring the container closest to the compactor, and is in a disengaged state with the gate plate 19 when the container is traveling away from the compactor. Therefore, even if the gate plate 19 is lifted and rattles due to vibrations caused by traveling when the container is traveling, the rattle cannot be suppressed, and there is a risk that the contents of the container will leak out due to the rattle.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system for a container, which is equipped with a special locking device to prevent the gate plate from rattling, and which enables the locking and unlocking operations of this locking device to be performed automatically with a simple configuration using a fork. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a container having at one end an entrance opened and closed by a gate plate and a gate support frame supporting the gate plate so as to be slidable in a predetermined opening and closing direction, a compactor capable of pushing waste into the container through the entrance, an opening and closing drive device having an opening and closing drive member capable of driving the gate plate to open and close and disposed in the compactor or between the compactor and the container, and a container drive device for driving the container to approach and move away from the compactor, the opening and closing drive member having a fork that can be inserted and removed in a receiving hole provided on the outer periphery of the gate plate, and the opening and closing drive member is adapted to drive the gate plate to open and close in response to the approach of the container to the compactor. In a gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system for a container, in which the gate plate is interlocked with the opening and closing drive member when the fork is inserted into the receiving hole, a locking member that is normally held in a predetermined locking position that locks the gate plate in a closed position is provided on the gate plate so as to move to an unlocked position in conjunction with the fork when the fork is inserted into the receiving hole or immediately before it is inserted, and the locking member has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion of the gate support frame to maintain the locked position when it is in the locked position, and the engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member to the unlocked position.

[0007] The present invention also provides a container having at one end an entrance opened and closed by a gate plate and a gate support frame supporting the gate plate slidably in a predetermined opening and closing direction, a compactor capable of pushing waste into the container through the entrance, an opening and closing drive device having an opening and closing drive member capable of driving the gate plate to open and close and disposed in the compactor or between the compactor and the container, and a container drive device for driving the container to approach and move away from the compactor, the opening and closing drive member having a fork that can be inserted and removed into a receiving hole provided on the outer periphery of the gate plate, and the fork is inserted and removed into the receiving hole as the container approaches the compactor. In a gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system for a container, in which the gate plate is interlocked with the opening and closing drive member by inserting a fork, a locking member that is normally held in a predetermined locking position that locks the gate plate in a closed position is provided on the gate plate so as to move to an unlocked position in conjunction with the fork rising a predetermined amount after being inserted into the receiving hole, and the locking member has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion of the gate support frame to maintain the locked position when it is in the locked position, and the engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member to the unlocked position.

[0008] Furthermore, in addition to the first or second feature, the present invention has a third feature in that the locking member has an abutment portion that can abut against the fork so as to receive an unlocking force from the fork.

[0009] In addition to the third feature, the present invention has a fourth feature in that the abutment portion has a roller rotatably supported by the locking member and with which the fork can come into contact and separate.

[0010] Furthermore, in addition to the first or second feature, the present invention has a fifth feature in that a biasing member is connected to the locking member for constantly biasing the locking member toward the locking position.

[0011] Furthermore, in addition to the first or second feature, the present invention has a sixth feature in that the gate plate is held by the gate support frame so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the receiving hole is formed in an upper end of the gate plate which protrudes upward from the gate support frame when the gate plate is in the closed position, and the opening / closing drive member is capable of driving the gate plate to rise and fall with the fork inserted into the receiving hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention has a seventh feature in addition to the third feature, that the locking member has the abutment portion, a connection portion to which a biasing member that constantly biases the locking member toward the locked position is connected, and a shaft portion that extends approximately along an upper end portion of the gate plate and is rotatably supported on the upper end portion, and the engagement portion, the connection portion and the abutment portion are connected to the shaft portion at intervals from each other in the axial direction and so as to rotate together with the shaft portion. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a gate opening / closing device in a waste pushing system for a container, a locking member that is normally held at a predetermined locking position for locking a gate plate in a closed position is provided on the gate plate so as to move to an unlocking position in conjunction with the forks when the forks are inserted into the receiving holes or immediately before being inserted into the receiving holes, and the locking member has an engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion of the gate support frame to hold the locked position when the locking member is in the locked position, and the engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member to the unlocking position. As a result, when the container travels away from the compactor, the gate plate can be locked in the closed position by the locking member held at the locking position, so that the gate plate can be reliably prevented from floating up and rattling relative to the gate support frame due to vibration during travel, and leakage of contents in the container due to the rattling can be effectively prevented. On the other hand, the locking member moves to the unlocking position in conjunction with the forks being inserted into the receiving holes or immediately before being inserted into the receiving holes as the container approaches the compactor, and therefore the gate plate can be opened and closed by the opening / closing drive member without any hindrance. Moreover, the locking member can be automatically locked and unlocked using a simple configuration that utilizes the relative displacement between the fork and gate plate that occurs when the container approaches or moves away from the compactor, which contributes to cost reduction.

[0014] According to the second feature, the locking member, which is normally held at a predetermined locking position that locks the gate plate in the closed position, is provided on the gate plate so as to move to the unlocking position in conjunction with the forks rising a predetermined amount after being inserted into the receiving holes, so that the locking member moves to the unlocking position in conjunction with the forks being inserted into the receiving holes and rising a predetermined amount within the receiving holes as the container approaches the compactor, thereby releasing the gate plate from the gate support frame, and the gate plate can be opened and closed without any hindrance. Furthermore, the effect of suppressing the rattling of the gate plate based on the first feature and the effect of automatically switching between lock and unlock with a simple configuration using the relative displacement between the forks and the gate plate can be achieved equally well by the second feature.

[0015] According to the third feature, the locking member has a contact portion that contacts the fork so that the locking member can receive an unlocking force from the fork. Therefore, the locking member can be mechanically and accurately linked to the action of the fork being inserted into the receiving hole as the container approaches the compactor, or the action immediately before the insertion, or the action of the fork rising within the receiving hole immediately after the insertion.

[0016] According to the fourth feature, the contact portion has a roller that is rotatably supported by the locking member and to which the fork can be brought into contact and separated. This makes it possible to effectively suppress abnormal noise and damage caused by friction when the fork comes into contact with the roller of the contact portion.

[0017] According to the fifth feature, a biasing member is connected to the locking member which constantly biases the locking member toward the locked position, so that when the waste pushing operation is completed and the container leaves the compactor (and therefore the forks leave the receiving holes), the biasing force of the biasing member can reliably and automatically return the locking member to the locked position.

[0018] According to the sixth feature, the gate plate is held by the gate support frame so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the receiving hole is formed in the upper end of the gate plate which protrudes upward from the gate support frame when the gate plate is in the closed position, and with the fork inserted in the receiving hole, the opening / closing drive member can drive the gate plate to be raised and lowered. Therefore, rattling caused by the gate plate lifting up and down, which is likely to occur when a container is traveling, can be reliably suppressed by the locking member in the locked position.

[0019] According to a seventh feature, the locking member has the abutment portion, a connection portion to which a biasing member that constantly biases the locking member toward the locked position is connected, and a shaft portion that extends along the upper end of the gate plate and is rotatably supported on the upper end, and the abutment portion, connection portion, and engagement portion are connected to the shaft portion at intervals in the axial direction and rotatable together with the shaft portion, so that the shaft portion of the locking member can be disposed along the upper end of the gate plate, and the upward bulk of the locking member can be suppressed, contributing to miniaturization. Moreover, the abutment portion, connection portion, and engagement portion of the locking member can be disposed in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion while reasonably avoiding mutual interference, which increases the design freedom of the locking member as a whole. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a waste pushing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, particularly showing a state in which a container is in an initial position during a forward movement process. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an overall side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing a state in which the container is in the approach position A1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing a state in which a container is in a pushing position A2. [Figure 4] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 1 taken along the arrow 4X. [Diagram 5] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 2 taken along the arrow 5X. [Figure 6] A diagram corresponding to Figure 5 showing the gate plate raised to the upper limit position when the container is stopped at the approach position. [Figure 7] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 3 taken along the arrow 7X. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing the state in which the container is returned to the return position A1′ during the return process. [Figure 9] 9X-9X cross section of Figure 5 [Figure 10] 10X-10X cross section of Figure 7 [Figure 11] 11X-11X sectional view of Fig. 10 [Figure 12]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main parts of the waste pushing system (particularly the container and the gate lifting device) with the container body cut away. [Figure 13] Plan view showing the container support stand and its accessories [Figure 14] 14X-14X sectional view of Fig. 13 [Figure 15] A front view seen from the direction of the arrow 15X in Figure 13. [Figure 16] 16A and 16B are front views as seen from the direction of the arrow 16X in FIG. 13, in which (a) shows a state in which the stopper member 52 of the lock mechanism 50 is in a stopper position 52X, and (b) shows a state in which the stopper member 52 is in a standby position 52Y. [Figure 17] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a waste pushing system according to a second embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 4); [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container driving device is extended to its extension limit and the locking hook is swung upward to a locking position from the state shown in FIG. 17 (corresponding to FIG. 17). [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is contracted to an intermediate contraction position from the state shown in FIG. 18 to draw the container to the approach position A2 (corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 18). [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is contracted to its contraction limit from the state shown in FIG. 19 to pull the container to the pushing position A3 (corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 19). [Figure 21] 21X-21X sectional view of Figure 20 [Figure 22] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is extended to its extension limit from the state shown in FIG. 20 to push the container back to the return position A1′ during the return movement process (corresponding to FIG. 8 and FIG. 20). [Figure 23] FIG. 1A is a side view showing a simplified state change of an operating mode of a fail-safe stopper mechanism according to an embodiment in accordance with a container position; FIG. 1B is a side view showing a simplified state change of the operating mode of a fail-safe stopper mechanism according to a modified example; [Figure 24] A front view of the main part of the locking device L in a locked state with the gate plate locked in the closed position, seen from the compactor side. [Diagram 25] 25A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion and its periphery (cross-sectional view taken along line 25AX-25AX in FIG. 24), and FIG. 25B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement portion and its periphery (cross-sectional view taken along line 25BX-25BX in FIG. 24). [Figure 26] 25(A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion and its periphery (corresponding to FIG. 25(A)), and FIG. 25(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement portion and its periphery (corresponding to FIG. 25(B)). [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 27X-27X in FIG. 24) showing a connection portion and its surroundings in the locking device L, in which the locked state is shown by solid lines and the unlocked state is shown by dashed lines. [Figure 28] FIG. 24 shows a main part of a modified example of the lock device L. [Figure 29] FIG. 25 shows a main part of a modified example of the lock device L. [Diagram 30] FIG. 26 shows a main part of a modified example of the lock device L. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] First, Fig. 1 to Fig. 16 show a first embodiment of a compactor-container according to the present invention, that is, a system for pushing waste into a container Ct by a compactor Cp. The main parts of the system will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system includes a container Ct that can move in the forward and backward directions on a support base B installed on the ground, a compactor Cp that can push waste into the container Ct through an entrance 10i at the rear end of the container Ct when the container Ct is at a pushing position A3 (see Figs. 3 and 7) on the support base B, a container drive device D1 that can reciprocate the container Ct in the forward and backward directions from a predetermined initial position A1 (see Figs. 1 and 4) away from the compactor Cp to a predetermined return position A1' via the pushing position A3, a gate lifting device Dg that is disposed between the container Ct and the compactor Cp and drives the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 that can open and close the entrance 10i to move up and down, and a fail-safe stopper mechanism 50 that restricts the movement of the container Ct so that it does not go beyond a predetermined position.

[0023] The system further includes a control panel U having a built-in control device Uc for controlling the operation of the compactor Cp, the container drive device D1, the gate lifting device Dg, the stopper mechanism 50, etc., and the control panel U is installed in an appropriate location that does not interfere with other equipment. The support base B is formed in a ladder shape in a plan view by framing a plurality of vertical frames, horizontal frames, and support frames together.

[0024] In this specification, the term "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the container Ct when it is pushed by the compactor Cp, and in particular the front direction corresponds to the pushing direction of the compactor Cp. The term "left-right direction" refers to the left-right direction of the container Ct when it is pushed by the compactor Cp, and corresponds to the width direction of the container Ct and the gate plate 22.

[0025] The compactor Cp comprises a hollow body 1 which is open at the front end and long in the front-to-rear direction, a hopper 2 which is connected to the upper wall near the front of the body 1 and can supply input waste into the body 1, a piston 3 which is slidably arranged on the inner periphery of the body 1 to push forward the waste supplied into the body 1 through the hopper 2, and a piston drive device 4 (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder) which drives the piston 3 back and forth.

[0026] The trunk 1 has at its front end a square-shaped outlet tube 1o that is slightly smaller in diameter than the main body of the trunk 1 and has an upper wall 1ot that is inclined downward toward the front, and the front end opening of the outlet tube 1o functions as an outlet, i.e., an extrusion port, for the waste pushed out by the piston 3. The trunk 1 is installed and fixed on a number of bases 5 that are fixed on the ground.

[0027] In the embodiment, a partition gate 6 is disposed in the body 1 behind the outlet tube 1o and in front of the hopper 2, which divides the inside of the body 1 in front of the piston 3 into front and rear. The partition gate 6 can be raised and lowered between a lower limit position where it blocks the middle of the body 1 and an upper limit position where it opens it, and is driven to be raised and lowered by a lifting drive device 7. By advancing the piston 3 to just before the partition gate 6 while the partition gate 6 is in the lower limit position, the waste can be pre-compressed in the body 1 before being pushed into the container Ct, and by raising and opening the partition gate 6 after the pre-compression, the pre-compressed waste can be pushed into the container Ct by the compactor Cp.

[0028] Incidentally, since the partition gate 6 and the lifting drive device 7 are well known, a detailed description of their structures will be omitted.

[0029] Furthermore, the partition gate 6 and the lifting drive device 7 may be omitted if necessary.

[0030] When the compactor Cp is operated with the outlet tube 1o inserted and connected to the inlet 10i at the rear end of the container Ct (i.e., with the container Ct in the pushing position A3 shown in Figure 3), waste can be pushed from the compactor Cp into the container Ct through the outlet tube 1o and the inlet 10i.

[0031] A support base B that is long in the front-rear direction is fixed to the ground in front of the compactor Cp, and a pair of left and right guide rails Br that are L-shaped in cross section and extend in the front-rear direction are fixed to the upper surface of the support base B. Correspondingly, wheel receiving frames 15 are fixed (for example, welded) to the bottom of the container Ct at intervals in the front-rear and left-right directions, and four wheels 14 are rotatably supported on each wheel receiving frame 15. Therefore, the container Ct can roll in the front-rear direction on the left and right guide rails Br via the left and right wheels 14.

[0032] A container Ct that can be transported by a conventionally known container transport vehicle (not shown) can be loaded and unloaded from this guide rail Br. The container transport vehicle is equipped with a loading and unloading device (e.g., a hook arm, etc.) to which the container Ct can be attached and detached and which enables the above-mentioned loading and unloading operations. The loading and unloading device can be engaged with and disengaged from a lift bar 19 fixed to the front wall of the container Ct, and when engaged, the container Ct can be lowered from the container transport vehicle onto the guide rail Br by a conventionally known method and can be forcibly moved in the front-rear direction along the rail Br to a predetermined initial position A1 (see Figures 1, 4, etc.).

[0033] The fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 on the guide rail Br is detected by an initial position sensor provided on the support base B or a predetermined portion on the ground. In this embodiment, a photoelectric sensor 8 (shown only in Figs. 9 and 10) consisting of a light emitting portion 8a and a light receiving portion 8b facing each other across the moving path of the container Ct is used as the initial position sensor. The fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 is detected by the photoelectric sensor 8 detecting a specific portion of the container Ct, for example, the rear end portion (i.e., the light receiving portion 8b is blocked by the specific portion of the container Ct). A notification means (for example, a notification lamp, a buzzer, etc.) that notifies the detection allows a worker to recognize that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1, and stops the work of lowering the container Ct from the container carrier onto the guide rail Br, whereby the container Ct is placed at the initial position A1.

[0034] Incidentally, the fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 may be detected by a sensor other than the photoelectric sensor 8 (for example, a proximity sensor disposed between the bottom of the container Ct and the support base B).

[0035] The container Ct has, as its main parts, a box-shaped container body 10 having a bottom wall 11 that is rectangular in plan view, with at least most of its upper surface being horizontal and flat, side walls 12 (i.e., left and right side walls and a front wall) that stand vertically from at least three sides of the bottom wall 11 (in this embodiment, the left and right side sides and the front side), and a ceiling wall 13 that is connected to the upper ends of the side walls 12 and faces the upper surface of the bottom wall 11, sandwiching the container space therebetween.

[0036] A first hinge bracket b1 is fixed to the rear end of the ceiling wall 13 of the container body 10, and a support arm 21a extending integrally from an upper portion (more specifically, an upper portion of the gate support frame 21) of a tailgate 20 serving as an opening / closing door for opening and closing an entrance 10i at the rear end of the container body 10 is pivotally connected to this, so that the tailgate 20 can swing to be opened and closed in the front-rear direction about the pivotal connection portion relative to the container body 10. In addition, a pair of left and right reinforcing vertical frames 18 (e.g., I-shaped frames) each extending in the front-rear direction are fixed (e.g., welded) to the underside of the bottom wall 11 at a distance from each other on the left and right.

[0037] Between the gate support frame 21 and the container body 10, a conventionally known locking mechanism (not shown) is interposed for locking the tailgate 20 in a closed position relative to the entrance 10i (in other words, a state in which the gate support frame 21 is in close contact with the rear end of the container body 10). When the container Ct is dumped with its front raised by a container transport vehicle in a state in which this locking mechanism is unlocked, the entire tailgate 20 opens and rotates under its own weight, allowing the waste contained in the container Ct to be discharged. The tailgate 20 may be opened sideways relative to the entrance 10i of the container Ct, i.e., may be swung open and closed around a vertical axis.

[0038] Between the tailgate 20 and the container body 10, a sealing member (not shown) for sealing the gap is disposed as is well known in the art.

[0039] In the embodiment, the entrance 10i of the container Ct is shown opening at the rear end of the container body 10, but the opening position of the entrance 10i is not limited to the rear end of the container body 10, and the entrance 10i may open, for example, in one of the side walls of the container body 10, either the front, rear, left or right.

[0040] The tailgate 20 includes a rectangular gate support frame 21 having an opening 21o corresponding to the entrance 10i of the container Ct, and a rectangular flat gate plate 22 slidably supported by the gate support frame 21 to open and close the opening 21o. The left and right side portions of the gate plate 22 are fitted and supported in vertical guide grooves 21sg provided on the opposing surfaces of the left and right side frame portions 21s of the gate support frame 21 so as to be vertically slidable, and the gate plate 22 can be raised and lowered by the vertical sliding to a lower limit position, i.e., a closed position 22Z (see FIG. 9), which closes the opening 21o (and therefore the entrance 10i), and an upper limit position, i.e., an open position (see FIG. 10), which opens the opening 21o. In addition, a slit 21ua (see FIG. 6) is formed in the upper frame portion 21u of the gate support frame 21, into which the gate plate 22 is inserted so as to be vertically slidable and removable. Although not shown, reinforcing ribs extending lengthwise and widthwise are fixed to the front and rear side surfaces of the gate plate 22.

[0041] Further, a long and narrow support groove 22g extending in the vertical direction is provided on the side end surfaces of both the left and right sides of the gate plate 22. A tip of a hinge pin 21p is fitted and held in this support groove 22g so as to be vertically slidable and relatively rotatable, and a base of this hinge pin 21p is provided to protrude inward in the horizontal direction from a second hinge bracket b2 erected on the upper surface of the upper frame portion 21u of the gate support frame 21.

[0042] Next, a specific example of the container drive device D1 capable of driving the container Ct to approach or move away from the compactor Cp will be described. In the first embodiment, the container drive device D1 includes a rod-shaped engaged portion 10k fixed to the bottom of the container Ct and extending in the left-right direction, a pair of first and second engaging claws t1 and t2 on the left and right as engaging members engageable with and disengaged from the engaged portion 10k, a pair of endless chains 41 on the left and right to which the first and second engaging claws t1 and t2 are respectively fixed, a pair of front and rear sprockets 42 and 43 on the left and right that are rotatably supported on the support base B so as to wind the chains 41 around them, a motor 44 that rotates and drives one of the front and rear sprockets 42 via an interlocking mechanism (a separate chain transmission mechanism in the embodiment), and a sensor 45 that can detect, in cooperation with the control device Uc, that the container Ct is in a predetermined position (i.e., the initial position A1, the intermediate approach position A2, the push-in position A3, or the return position A1') based on the amount of rotation of the motor 44.

[0043] The engaged portion 10k has both ends fixed (for example, welded) to the left and right vertical frames 18, 18 of the bottom of the container Ct, respectively.

[0044] The left and right chains 41, 41 are connected to each other at the locations where the first and second locking claws t1, t2 are fixed via a crossbar 47 for locking claw synchronization. In addition, the control device Uc is configured to be able to control the operation of the motor 44 based on the detection results of the sensor 45 (e.g., the amount of motor rotation).

[0045] The first and second locking claws t1, t2 in the embodiment are fixed to the chain 41 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. When the container Ct is driven forward from the initial position A1 toward the push-in position A3 (i.e., leftward in Figs. 1 to 3), the chain 41 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 14. At this time, the first locking claw t1 engages with the engaged portion 10k, so that the container Ct is pulled toward the compactor Cp.

[0046] On the other hand, when the container Ct is driven in the return direction from the push-in position A3 toward the return position A1' (i.e., to the right in Figs. 1 to 3), the chain 41 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in Fig. 14. At this time, the second locking claw t2 engages with the engaged portion 10k, so that the container Ct is pulled out to the opposite side to the compactor Cp.

[0047] Moreover, the sensor 45 in the embodiment is a sensor capable of measuring the rotation state including the amount of rotation of the motor 44. When a container Ct unloaded from a container transport vehicle is carried into the initial position A1 or carried out from the return position A1' to the outside, the first and second locking claws t1, t2 are waiting in the waiting position (see solid line in FIG. 14) away from the engaged portion 10k, so that the two locking claws t1, t2 do not hinder the carrying in and carrying out of the container Ct.

[0048] Next, when the container Ct reaches the initial position A1 and stops, the motor 44 is started by an operator's operation input to the control panel U, etc., and the chain 41 is rotated counterclockwise. When the first locking claw t1 engages with the engaged portion 10k (see the chain line in FIG. 14) in accordance with the rotation of the chain 41, the control device Uc detects the engagement by a sudden increase in the load current of the motor 44, and the amount of motor rotation from the time of detection (engagement) is measured by the rotation sensor 45 and output to the control device Uc.

[0049] In this case, the control device Uc temporarily stops the movement of the container Ct when it determines based on the amount of motor rotation that the container Ct has reached the predetermined approach position A2 and push-in position A3, respectively.

[0050] In the embodiment, as a method for detecting the engagement of the first locking claw t1 with the engaged portion 10k, the control device Uc detects the engagement from a sudden change in the load current of the motor 44 that accompanies the engagement, but the detection method is not limited to the embodiment, and other sensors (for example, a proximity sensor interposed between the container Ct and the support base B, or an optical sensor such as a photoelectric sensor) may also be used.

[0051] The approach position A2 (see Figs. 2, 5, and 6) is an intermediate work position where the container Ct is temporarily stopped in order to raise (open) or lower (close) the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20, and at this position, the rear end of the container Ct and the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp face each other and are close to each other in the front-rear direction. The push-in position A3 (see Figs. 3 and 7) is a push-in work position of the container Ct to receive the waste pushing action from the compactor Cp, and at this push-in position A3, not only the tailgate 20 of the container Ct but also the rear end of the container body 10 are arranged to overlap with the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp (more specifically, the outlet tube 1o) in the front-rear direction.

[0052] In the embodiment, in the process in which the container Ct is driven by the container driving device D1 to move back and forth from the initial position A1 through the pushing-in position A3 to the return position A1', a stopper mechanism 50 capable of restricting the movement of the container Ct so that the container Ct does not go beyond a predetermined position (in the embodiment, the pushing-in position A3 and the return position A1') is arranged independently of the container driving device D1.

[0053] As is clear from Figures 13, 16 and 23(a), this stopper mechanism 50 includes a pair of front and rear engaged parts 51f, 51r protruding from the bottom of the container Ct at a distance in the front-to-rear direction, a single stopper member 52 journalled 52p to a fixed plate Bt on the support base B so as to be able to selectively move (rotate) between a stopper position 52X where it can engage with the engaged parts 51f, 51r and a standby position 52Y where it cannot engage with them, and an actuator 58 (e.g. a hydraulic cylinder) which is operated and controlled by the control device Uc to drive the stopper member 52 to rotate between the stopper position 52X and the standby position 52Y.

[0054] The actuator 58 is rotatably pivotally connected 58p to the fixed plate Bt via a bracket 59. Each of the engaged portions 51f, 51r extends in a rod shape in the left-right direction, and both ends of each are fixed (for example, welded) to the left and right vertical frames 18, 18 of the bottom of the container Ct, respectively.

[0055] Incidentally, the stopper member 52 in this embodiment is divided into two stopper member halves 52a, 52b that are the same in the front-to-rear direction, and both halves 52a, 52b can rotate by the same amount in the same rotation direction via a synchronizing link mechanism 54. Incidentally, the stopper member 52 may be formed of an integral member (for example, only one stopper half 52b) instead of being divided as described above, in which case the other stopper half 52a and the synchronizing link mechanism 54 can be omitted.

[0056] Thus, when the container Ct is carried into the initial position A1 or carried out from the return position A1' by the container transport vehicle, the stopper member 52 is held at the standby position 52Y, so that it does not interfere with the carrying in and carrying out of the container Ct. Also, in the forward process in which the container Ct leaves the initial position A1 and moves toward the push-in position A3, the stopper member 52 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the stopper member 53 engages with the front engaged portion 51f, so that the forward movement of the container Ct is restricted so that it does not pass the push-in position A3. On the other hand, in the return process in which the container Ct moves from the push-in position A3 toward the return position A1', the stopper member 52 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the stopper member 52 engages with the rear engaged portion 51r, so that the return movement of the container Ct is restricted so that it does not pass the return position A1'.

[0057] 23(b) shows a modified example of the above-mentioned stopper mechanism 50. The stopper mechanism 50 of this modified example includes a single engaged part 55 protruding from the bottom of the container Ct, a pair of front and rear stopper members 56, 56 journaled on a support base B and arranged at a distance in the front-rear direction so as to be able to selectively move (rotate) between a stopper position where the engaged part 55 can be engaged and a standby position where the engaged part cannot be engaged, and an actuator that is actuated and controlled by the control device Uc to drive each stopper member 56 to rotate between a stopper position 56X and a standby position 56Y.

[0058] Thus, in the above-mentioned modified example, during the outward movement of the container Ct from the initial position A1 toward the push-in position A3, only the rear stopper member 56 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the rear stopper member 56 engages with the engaged portion 55, thereby restricting the outward movement of the container Ct so that it does not pass the push-in position A3. On the other hand, during the above-mentioned return movement of the container Ct, only the front stopper member 56 is held at the stopper position 56X, and in this state, the front stopper member 56 engages with the engaged portion 55, thereby restricting the return movement of the container Ct so that it does not pass the return position A1'.

[0059] The forward limit position of the container Ct restricted by the stopper mechanism 50 may be set to approximately coincide with the regular push-in position A3 of the container Ct, or the forward limit position may be set slightly shifted rearward from the regular push-in position A3. The backward limit position of the container Ct restricted by the stopper mechanism 50 may be set to approximately coincide with the regular return position A1' of the container Ct, or the backward limit position may be set slightly shifted forward from the regular return position A1'.

[0060] Incidentally, the above-mentioned stopper mechanism 50 is used as a fail-safe means for preventing the container Ct from going beyond the forward movement limit position or the return movement limit position by activating the stopper members 52, 56 to the stopper positions 52X, 56X at a predetermined control timing when the container Ct moves forward and backward. However, instead of this usage example, the stopper members 52, 56 may be normally held in the standby positions 52Y, 56Y, and the stopper members 52, 56 may be activated to the stopper positions 52X, 56X only in emergency situations where it is necessary to prevent the container Ct from running out of control due to a malfunction of the container driving device D1, etc.

[0061] Next, with reference mainly to Figs. 4 to 12, an example of a gate lifting device Dg capable of driving the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 to lift and lower in order to open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct will be described.

[0062] The gate lifting device Dg constitutes the opening / closing drive device of the present invention and includes a fork F removably inserted into a receiving hole 22ah formed through the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22, an opening / closing drive member 35 that fixes and supports the fork F so that the fork F rises and falls as a unit, and a lifting drive device 30 that drives the fork F to rise and fall via the opening / closing drive member 35. The opening / closing drive member 35 is formed of a highly rigid hollow frame that extends horizontally in the left-right direction (i.e., the direction across the container Ct).

[0063] The lifting drive device 30 comprises a pair of left and right bases 31 that are installed and fixed to the ground between the compactor Cp and the container support base B, a pair of left and right support pillars 32, 32 that are erected on the bases 31 and extend vertically, and that guide and support both ends of the opening / closing drive member 35 so that it can be raised and lowered, an upper frame 33 that connects the upper ends of the left and right support pillars 32, 32 and extends in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 that are interposed between the left and right support pillars 32, 32 and both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, respectively, and extend in the vertical direction along the support pillars 32, 32.

[0064] The left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 are provided with a synchronization mechanism (e.g., a hydraulic control unit using a synchronization valve, a sensor, etc.) in the hydraulic circuit that operates them, so that the left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 can synchronize and expand and contract by the same amount, thereby enabling the opening / closing drive member 35 to be raised and lowered in a balanced manner.

[0065] A pair of left and right support columns 32, 32 are arranged in parallel at positions sandwiching the movement trajectory of a container Ct that can move forward and backward relative to the compactor Cp from the left and right. In addition, front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb extending in the vertical direction are respectively protruded from the front and rear surfaces of each support column 32. Then, upper and lower pairs of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b that are rollably engaged with the front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb are rotatably supported by left and right brackets 38, 38 joined to both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35. The upper and lower pairs of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b stably sandwich the support column 32 from the front and rear via the front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb, whereby the opening / closing drive member 35 is held on the left and right support columns 32 so as to be able to rise and fall while maintaining a stable horizontal posture.

[0066] In this way, the opening / closing drive member 35 has its left and right ends guided and supported so as to be able to roll on the left and right support pillars 32, 32 via front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b and guide rails 32ra, 32rb, and is driven to rise and fall along the support pillars 32 by the left and right hydraulic cylinders 34.

[0067] Meanwhile, the bases of a pair of left and right forks F extending forward, i.e., toward the container Ct, are fixed by suitable fixing means (for example, welding, bolting, etc.) to the intermediate portion near both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35. Each fork F is formed in a substantially horizontal band-like shape, and its tip portion, i.e., the front end portion, is formed in a slightly tapered shape in a plan view or has a rounded tip corner portion, so that it can be smoothly inserted into a receiving hole 22ah of a gate plate 22, which will be described next.

[0068] On the other hand, an extension wall portion that extends upward from the upper surface of the gate support frame 21 is integrally provided at the upper edge of the rectangular gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 over the entire width direction (i.e., left-right direction) of the gate plate 22. This extension wall portion forms the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22, and is provided with left and right receiving holes 22ah, each of which is formed as a horizontally long through hole into which the left and right forks F are inserted so as to be removable in the front-rear direction. By inserting each fork F into the receiving holes 22ah, the gate plate 22 is interlocked with the opening / closing drive member 35 so that it can be driven to move up and down.

[0069] The left and right receiving holes 22ah are disposed so as to be at the same height as the forks F when the opening / closing drive member 35 and the gate plate 22 are both at their lowest positions. Therefore, when the container Ct, whose entrance 10i is closed by the gate plate 22, is moved sufficiently close to the compactor Cp side from the initial position A1 described above (more specifically, when the container Ct reaches the approach position A2 described above), the forks F are inserted sufficiently (i.e., a predetermined amount or more) into the receiving holes 22ah.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the receiving hole 22ah provided in the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22 is formed as a long hole that is long in the left-right direction, but it may be formed as a circular hole or an oval hole. Furthermore, the extension wall portion that becomes the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22 may be connected to only a partial area in the width direction (i.e., left-right direction) of the gate plate 22 at the upper edge of the gate plate 22.

[0071] Meanwhile, a pair of left and right locking devices L capable of locking the gate plate 22 in the closed position 22Z to suppress rattling of the gate plate 22 (and therefore leakage of contents in the container Ct due to rattling) in a situation where the container Ct is separated from the compactor Cp and the forks F come out of the receiving holes 22ah (for example, during transportation by a container transport vehicle) are interposed between the gate plate 22 and the gate support frame 21 near both left and right ends of the upper part of the gate plate 22. In particular, Figs. 24 to 27 specifically show an example of the locking devices L.

[0072] Each locking device L is provided on the gate plate 22 and includes a locking member 80 that is normally held in a predetermined locking position 80A that locks the gate plate 22 in the closed position 22Z, and an unlocking mechanism Lx that moves the locking member 80 to an unlocked position 80B in conjunction with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah.

[0073] The locking member 80 has a cylindrical shaft portion 85 as a base body that extends roughly along the extension wall portion 22a serving as the upper end portion of the gate plate 22, and this shaft portion 85 is rotatably fitted into and supported by support bosses 86b of a plurality of brackets 86 fixed (e.g., welded) to the extension wall portion 22a.

[0074] An engagement portion 81 is fixed (e.g., welded) to the outer end of this shaft portion 85, and engages with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 to maintain the locking position 80A when the locking member 80 is in the locking position 80A. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 81 is composed of a hook plate whose base is fixed to the shaft portion 85 and which rotates together with the shaft portion 85.

[0075] Additionally, upward supporting protrusions 21b are integrally provided on the upper portions of both the left and right ends of the gate support frame 21. An intermediate portion of an engaging pin extending parallel to the shaft portion 85 is fixed to the upper portion of the supporting protrusions 21b, and this engaging pin constitutes the engaged portion 25. The locking claw portion 81t at the tip of the engaging portion 81 made of the hook plate described above can be engaged with and disengaged from the pin-shaped engaged portion 25. If necessary, a return portion for preventing disengagement is provided on the engaging surface of the locking claw portion 81t with the engaged portion 25.

[0076] Thus, when the locking member 80 is in the locked position 80A, as can be seen in FIG. 25, the locking claw portion 81t at the tip of the engaging portion 81 is engaged with the engaged portion 25, thereby holding the locking member 80 in the locked position 80A and suppressing rattling (i.e., up-and-down vibration) of the gate plate 22.

[0077] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 26, when the locking member 80 moves to the unlocked position 80B (more specifically, swings around the axis of the shaft portion 85), the locking claw portion 81t disengages from the engaged portion 25 (i.e., releases the lock) in response to the movement, and the gate plate 22 can be raised and lowered by the opening / closing drive member 35.

[0078] The locking member 80 has an abutment portion 82 that abuts against the fork F so as to directly receive the unlocking force from the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. The abutment portion 82 has a pair of bell crank-shaped support arms 82a whose bases are fixed to the middle portion near the inner end of the shaft portion 85, and a roller 82r rotatably supported by both support arms 82a, and the roller 82r abuts against the fork F so as to be able to approach and separate from the fork F.

[0079] Furthermore, a base of a spring receiving arm 84 serving as a connection part is fixed to the middle part of the shaft part 85, and a biasing member 83 that constantly biases the shaft part 85, and therefore the locking member 80, toward the lock position 80A is connected to the tip of this spring receiving arm 84. In this embodiment, a tension coil spring is used as this biasing member 83, and one end of this coil spring is engaged with a spring receiving piece 22as fixed (for example, welded) to the extension wall part 22a of the gate plate 22, and the other end of the same spring is engaged with the tip of the spring receiving arm 84.

[0080] The biasing member 83 is not limited to a coil spring as in the embodiment, but may be any spring material (such as a torsion spring or leaf spring) that is at least connected to the locking member 80 and constantly biases the locking member 80 toward the locking position 80A.

[0081] In the locking member 80 of the embodiment, the engaging portion 81, the connecting portion 84, and the abutting portion 82 are connected to the shaft portion 85 so as to be spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the shaft portion 85 and to rotate together with the shaft portion 85. The fork F, the abutting portion 82, the shaft portion 85, and the engaging portion 81 of the locking member 80 cooperate with one another to configure the above-mentioned lock release mechanism Lx.

[0082] Meanwhile, a container fastening mechanism 70 (see Figures 4 and 12) is disposed between the support base B and the bottom of the container Ct to prevent the container Ct from separating from the compactor Cp due to the strong pushing load when the container Ct is at the pushing position A3 and the compactor Cp is performing the pushing operation.

[0083] This container lashing mechanism 70 comprises a rod-shaped lashing member 71 extending in the left-right direction and supported at both ends on the bottom of the container Ct via a pair of left and right hanging walls, a lashing hook 72 rotatably supported on a fixed base 74 installed on the ground and capable of engaging with and disengaging from the lashing member 71, and a drive device 73 selectively switchable between a lashing position where the lashing hook 72 engages with and lashes the lashing member 71 at the push-in position A3 of the container Ct and a release position where the lashing member 71 is released, and the drive device 73 is also operated and controlled by the control device Uc. Note that the structure and function of such a container lashing mechanism 70 are well known and therefore will not be described further.

[0084] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

[0085] When a container Ct is transported near the compactor Cp by a container transport vehicle (not shown), the container Ct is lowered from the container transport vehicle onto a guide rail Br of the support platform B by a conventionally known loading and unloading device, and moves to and stops at the initial position A1 (see Figs. 1 and 4). During this container lowering process, the control device Uc holds the stopper member 52 of the stopper mechanism 50 at the standby position 50Y to avoid interference with the engaged parts 51f, 51r at the bottom of the container Ct, but when the container Ct stops at the initial position A1, it is switched to and held at the stopper position 52X.

[0086] When it is confirmed that the container Ct has stopped at the initial position A1, the control device Uc rotates the motor 44 of the container drive device D1 in the forward direction to rotate the chain 41 counterclockwise in FIG. 14. As a result, when the first locking claw t1 on the chain 41 engages with the engaged portion 10k at the bottom of the container Ct, the container Ct receiving the driving force of the chain 41 starts moving backward (i.e., moving forward) toward the compactor Cp from the time of the engagement. At the same time, the control device Uc starts measuring the amount of motor rotation from the time of the engagement, and rotates the motor 44 in the forward direction based on the amount of rotation to move the container Ct backward toward the approach position A2 close to the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp. Then, when the container Ct reaches the approach position A2, the motor 11 (and therefore the container Ct) is stopped (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0087] In this case, the control device Uc has the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to move from the initial position A1 to the approach position A2 set and stored in advance, so the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2 from that amount of motor rotation.

[0088] When the container Ct reaches the approach position A2, the fork F of the gate lifting device Dg is inserted sufficiently (i.e., a predetermined amount or more) into the receiving hole 22ah of the upper end of the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20, i.e., the extension wall portion 22, and this insertion ensures that the fork F, and therefore the opening / closing drive member 35 and the gate plate 22 are properly linked and connected, so that the gate plate 22 can be driven to move up and down by the opening / closing drive member 35. That is, from this state, the opening / closing drive member 35 is driven to move up to the upper limit position by the lifting drive device 30 (hydraulic cylinder 34) of the gate lifting device Dg, and in conjunction with this, the gate plate 22 is raised to the upper limit position. As a result, the gate plate 22 opens the opening 21o of the tailgate 20 to open the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0089] At this time, the lower end of the gate plate 22 in the upper limit position is out of the groove from the open upper end of the guide groove 21sg of the gate support frame 21, so that the upper end of the gate plate 22 is suspended by the fork F of the gate lifting device Dg. However, even in this state, the lower end of the gate plate 22 is supported (pivotally supported) in such a way that the lower end of the gate plate 22 can swing back and forth around the hinge pin 21p relative to the gate support frame 21, due to the engagement between the hinge pin 21p fixed to the second hinge bracket b2 on the container Ct (gate support frame 21) and the support grooves 22g on both the left and right sides of the gate plate 22.

[0090] Next, the control device Uc resumes the normal rotation of the motor 44 while holding the opening / closing drive member 35 (and therefore the gate plate 22) at the upper limit position, and moves the container Ct further backward toward the compactor Cp. When the container Ct reaches the push-in position A3 as a result of this movement, the control device Uc stops the normal rotation of the motor 44, and the container Ct stops at the push-in position A3. In this case, the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to move from the approach position A2 to the push-in position A3 is set and stored in advance in the control device Uc, so that the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the push-in position A3 from the amount of motor rotation.

[0091] During the above-mentioned forward movement of the container Ct, even if the container Ct tries to pass the pushing position A3 due to a malfunction of the motor 44, etc., the stopper member 52 at the stopper position 52X engages with the front engaged portion 51f of the bottom of the container Ct, thereby restricting the container Ct from passing over.

[0092] In addition, during the process of the container Ct moving backward from the approach position A2 to the push-in position A3, even if the lower end of the gate plate 22 suspended from the fork F as described above comes out of the guide groove 21sg of the gate support frame 21, the hinge pin 21p fixed on the container Ct is engaged with the lower part of the support grooves 22g on both the left and right sides of the gate plate 22, so that as is clear from Figures 3 and 7, the gate plate 22 swings forward around the hinge pin 21p in conjunction with the approach of the container Ct to the push-in position A3.

[0093] When the container Ct is stopped at the push-in position A3, the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp, i.e., the outlet tube 1o, is inserted into the container body 10 by a predetermined amount through the inlet 10i of the container Ct, as is clear from Figures 3 and 7. In this inserted state, the rear of the container Ct and the front end opening of the compactor Cp (i.e., the outlet tube 1o) are directly connected to each other, so that the container Ct can receive waste from the compactor Cp, and are overlapped with each other over a predetermined range in the front-rear direction. This overlap effectively prevents waste from leaking out between the compactor Cp and the container Ct when the compactor Cp is subsequently pushed in.

[0094] Incidentally, in the compactor Cp, the waste introduced from the hopper 2 can be pre-compressed in the body 1 of the compactor Cp by reciprocating the piston 3 with the partition gate 6 closed. This pre-compression may be omitted as necessary, but in any case, if the compactor Cp is operated to push the container Ct while the container Ct is held at the pushing position A3, the waste is pushed into the container Ct from the front end opening of the body 1 of the compactor Cp.

[0095] Then, when the container Ct becomes full of waste, the pushing operation of the compactor Cp is stopped, and then the container Ct is moved forward (i.e., returned) from the pushing position A3 to the return position A1' via a temporary stop period at the approach position A2 by the container drive device D1 operated and controlled by the control device Uc. Note that the stopping of the pushing operation of the compactor Cp and the start of the return of the container Ct from the pushing position A3 may be arbitrarily performed by a worker through manual operation of the control panel U, or may be automatically controlled by the control device Uc based on the detection of a waste full sensor in the container Ct.

[0096] The forward movement (return) process of the container Ct from the push-in position A3 is the reverse of the backward movement (going) process, and links the forward movement of the container Ct by the container drive device D1 with the lifting and lowering of the gate plate 22 by the gate lifting and lowering device Dg. That is, the control device Uc moves the container Ct forward from the push-in position A3 to the approach position A2, pauses it at the approach position A2, and during the pause, lowers the gate plate 22 in the vertical position from the upper limit position to the lower limit position. Thereafter, the container Ct is moved forward again from the approach position A2, and when it reaches a predetermined return position A1', it is stopped there.

[0097] In this case, the control device Uc has the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to return from the pushing position A3 to the approach position A2 and the return position A1' respectively set and stored in advance, so that even during the return process of the container Ct, the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2 and the return position A1', respectively, from the amount of motor rotation.

[0098] In particular, the return position A1' may be set to the same position as the initial position A1 or to a position adjacent thereto.

[0099] Thus, when the container Ct reaches the return position A1' and stops, the container Ct is then loaded onto the container transport vehicle by the unloading device (not shown), but before that, the stopper member 52 of the stopper mechanism 50 is switched and moved from the stopper position 52X to the standby position 52Y. Therefore, there is no risk that the stopper member 52 will hinder the loading operation of the container Ct onto the container transport vehicle.

[0100] According to the first embodiment described above, the chain-type container drive device D1 includes the chain 41 having the first and second locking claws t1, t2 as locking members that can be engaged with and disengaged from the bottom of the container Ct, a pair of sprockets 42, 43 around which the chain 41 is wound, a motor 44 that rotates and drives one of the sprockets 42, a sensor 45 that can detect that the container Ct is at the push-in position A3 or the return position A1', and a control device Uc that controls the motor 44 based on the detection by the sensor 45. As a result, the container Ct can be accurately stopped at the push-in position A3 or the return position A1' if at least the sensor 45 and the control device Uc are normal.

[0101] In addition, a stopper mechanism 50 capable of restricting the movement of the container Ct so that the container Ct does not pass at least the pushing-in position A3 and the return position A1' during the process of the container Ct reciprocating from the initial position A1 through the pushing-in position A3 to the return position A1' is provided independent of the container driving device D1. As a result, if the container driving device D1 develops some kind of abnormality and the container Ct attempts to pass the pushing-in position A3 during the outward movement or the return position A1' during the return movement, the stopper mechanism 50 independent of the container driving device D1 can reliably stop the container Ct at the pushing-in position A3 / return position A1', thereby improving the safety of the work.

[0102] The stopper mechanism 50 (see Figs. 13, 16 and 23(a)) of the embodiment includes front and rear engaged parts 51f, 51r protruding from the bottom of the container Ct at intervals in the front-rear direction, and a single stopper member 52 pivotally supported 52p by the support base B so as to be selectively movable between a stopper position 52X engageable with the engaged parts 51f, 51r and a waiting position 52Y not engageable, so that the container Ct can be reliably stopped at the push-in position A3 (forward movement) and the return position A1' (forward movement) by mechanical engagement between the engaged parts 51f, 51r and the stopper member 52. Moreover, the single stopper member 52 on the support base B side can be commonly used for the multiple engaged parts 51f, 51r on the container Ct side, which contributes to cost reduction.

[0103] The stopper mechanism 50 of the modified example (see FIG. 23(b)) includes a single engaged part 55 protruding from the bottom of the container Ct, and front and rear stopper members 56, 56 that are pivotally supported 56p on the support base B and arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction so as to be able to selectively move between a stopper position 56X that is engageable with the engaged part 55 and a waiting position 56Y that is not engageable with the engaged part 55, so that the container Ct can be stopped reliably at the push-in position A3 (when moving forward) and the return position A1' (when moving backward) by the mechanical engagement between the engaged part 55 and the front and rear stopper members 56, 56. Moreover, the single engaged part 55 on the container Ct side can be used in common for the front and rear stopper members 56, 56 arranged side by side on the support base B, which contributes to cost reduction.

[0104] In addition, in the above embodiment and its modified example, a control example has been shown in which the stopper mechanism 50 restricts the movement of the container Ct, particularly the container Ct from passing the push-in position A3 during the forward movement process and the container Ct from passing the return position A1' during the return movement process. In addition to this control example, a control example can also be implemented in which the stopper mechanism 50 restricts the container Ct from passing other specified positions (for example, the initial position A1 or the approach position A2).

[0105] Furthermore, the stopper mechanism 50 may be used as a dedicated stopper mechanism (i.e., a combination mechanism of a dedicated stopper member and an engaged portion) used exclusively to regulate at least one of the pushed-in position A3, the approach position A2, the initial position A1, and the return position A1'.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the gate plate 22 is specially provided with a locking member 80 that is normally held at a predetermined locking position 80A that locks the gate plate 22 at the closed position 22Z, and this locking member 80 moves (i.e., rotates about the axis of the shaft portion 85) to the unlocking position 80B in conjunction with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah (i.e., when the container Ct approaches the compactor Cp to the approaching position A2). The locking member 80 has an engaging portion 81 that engages with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 to hold the locking position 80A when the locking member 80 is in the locking position 80A, and the above engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member 80 to the unlocking position 80B.

[0107] As a result, when the container Ct is separated from the compactor Cp (and therefore the fork F cannot be inserted through the receiving hole 22ah), for example, during travel, the gate plate 22 can be locked in the closed position by the locking member 80 held in the locking position 80A, thereby reliably preventing the gate plate 22 from floating up and rattling relative to the gate support frame 21 due to travel vibrations, and effectively preventing leakage of the contents of the container due to such rattling.

[0108] On the other hand, when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah as the container Ct moves closer to the compactor Cp (particularly as it moves to the approach position A2), the locking member 80 moves in conjunction with the fork F to the unlocked position 80B (i.e., rotates around the axis of the shaft portion 85), thereby releasing the gate plate 22 from the gate support frame 21, and the opening and closing drive member 35 can open and close the gate plate 22 without any hindrance.

[0109] Furthermore, the locking member 80 can be automatically switched between locked and unlocked using a simple configuration that utilizes the relative displacement between the fork F and the gate plate 22 that accompanies the approach and retraction of the container Ct from the compactor Cp, thereby reducing costs.

[0110] Furthermore, the abutment portion 82 of the locking member 80 in the embodiment abuts against the fork F such that a sufficient unlocking force is received from the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, and the locking member 80 can move to the unlocking position 80B. This allows the locking member 80 to be mechanically and accurately linked to the operation of inserting the fork F into the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 22 in conjunction with the movement of the container Ct to the approach position A2 relative to the compactor Cp.

[0111] In this case, the abutment portion 82 in this embodiment in particular has a roller 82r that is rotatably supported on the locking member 80, so that when the fork F abuts against the abutment portion 82 (more specifically, the roller 82r), noise and damage due to friction can be effectively suppressed.

[0112] Furthermore, since the locking member 80 of the embodiment is connected to a biasing member 83 that constantly biases the locking member 80 toward the locking position 80A, the biasing force of the biasing member 83 can accurately hold the locking member 80 at the locking position 80A under normal circumstances. Also, when the waste pushing operation by the compactor Cp is completed and the container Ct leaves the compactor Cp (and therefore the fork F leaves the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 20), the biasing force of the biasing member 83 can automatically and reliably return the locking member 80 to the locking position 80A.

[0113] Furthermore, the gate plate 22 of the embodiment is held by the gate support frame 21 so as to be slidable in the up-down direction, the receiving hole 22ah is formed through the extension wall portion 22a as the upper end portion of the gate plate 22 which projects upward from the gate support frame 21 when the gate plate 22 is at the closed position 22Z, and the opening / closing drive member 35 can drive the gate plate 22 to move up and down in a state in which the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. As a result, vibrations and rattles caused by the lifting of the gate plate 22 which are likely to occur when the container Ct is traveling can be effectively suppressed by the lock member 80 at the lock position 80A.

[0114] Furthermore, in the locking member 80 of the embodiment, the aforementioned engaging portion 81, connecting portion 84, and abutting portion 82 are connected to the shaft portion 85 so as to be spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and to rotate together with the shaft portion 85. This allows the long shaft portion 85, which serves as the base body of the locking member 80, to be disposed substantially along the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22, suppressing the upward bulk of the locking member 80 and enabling the device to be made more compact. Moreover, the aforementioned abutting portion 82, connecting portion 84, and engaging portion 81 of the locking member 80 can be disposed in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 85 while reasonably avoiding mutual interference, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the locking member 80 as a whole.

[0115] In particular, the gate plate 22 of the embodiment is composed of a rectangular plate body capable of closing the entrance 10i of the container Ct, and an extension wall portion 22a that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the container Ct and extends in the width direction of the gate plate 22 is connected to at least a part (all in the illustrated example) of the upper edge of the gate plate 22, and a receiving hole 22ah is provided in the extension wall portion 22a. This makes it possible to widely reinforce the periphery of the receiving hole 22ah with the sturdy extension wall portion 22a, so that when the gate plate 22 is raised, a large load transmitted from the fork F to the periphery of the receiving hole 22ah can be distributed and reasonably received by the extension wall portion 22a, thereby improving durability. Moreover, by providing the receiving hole 22ah in the extension wall portion 22a extending in the width direction of the gate plate 22, the degree of freedom in setting the arrangement and shape of the receiving hole 22ah is also increased.

[0116] Furthermore, by forming the extended wall portion 22a across the entire width of the gate plate 22 as in the embodiment, the extended wall portion 22a can be easily processed and manufactured without complicating the shape of the upper edge of the rectangular gate plate 22, thereby reducing costs and improving productivity.

[0117] In particular, the opening / closing drive member 35 is supported at both ends by a pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 that are fixed in a vertical upright position on the ground and are arranged at a distance from each other, and the pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 are arranged in positions that can sandwich the movement trajectory of the container Ct. Therefore, the opening / closing drive member 35 can be stably supported by the pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 that are sufficiently spaced apart from each other, and a long support span can be secured, thereby further stabilizing the raising and lowering operation of the gate plate 22.

[0118] Moreover, at least one pair of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b that sandwich the corresponding support pillar 32 from the front and rear are rotatably supported on both the left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, so that the opening / closing drive member 35 can be raised and lowered smoothly and without any rattling by sandwiching the support pillar 32 between the front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b.

[0119] In addition, the opening / closing drive member 35 is driven to rise and fall by a pair of left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 linked to the periphery of both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, so that the opening / closing drive member 35 can be driven to rise and fall in a balanced manner by the left and right cylinders 34, 34, and the load acting on the guide support parts of the left and right support columns 32, 32 for the opening / closing drive member 35 is well balanced. This allows the opening / closing drive member 35 to be raised and lowered more smoothly along the left and right support columns 32, 32.

[0120] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 22. In the first embodiment, the container driving device D1 is driven by a chain transmission mechanism, but in the second embodiment, the container driving device D2 is driven by a telescopic cylinder.

[0121] That is, the container driving device D2 of the second embodiment comprises an engaged part 61 protruding downward from the bottom of a container Ct, a locking hook 62 as a locking member that can be engaged and disengaged with the engaged part 61, an inner pipe 63 as a movable support member that supports the locking hook 62 and can move only in the forward and backward directions together with the locking hook 62, and a hydraulic cylinder 60 as an extendable cylinder that can drive the container Ct in the forward and backward directions between the initial position A1 and the pushed-in position A3 via the inner pipe 63 and the locking hook 62.

[0122] 21, the locking hook 62 comprises a pair of left and right band-shaped hook bodies 62m, 62m arranged side by side with a gap therebetween and extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction, a tip pin 62p1 connecting the tips of the hook bodies 62m, 62m, and a base pin 62p2 connecting the base ends of the hook bodies 62m, 62m and pivotally connecting them to the inner pipe 63 so that they can swing up and down. The engaged portion 61 is inserted removably into a gap space with open upper and lower ends defined between the hook bodies 62m, 62m, the tip pin 62p1, and the base pin 62p2 with a clearance in the front-to-rear direction, and the locking hook 62 can be locked to the engaged portion 61 by this insertion.

[0123] The locking hook 62 can swing up and down around the base pin 62p2 between a locking position (see Figs. 18 to 20) where it is locked to the engaged part 61 in a horizontal position facing the front-rear direction, and a standby position (see Figs. 17 and 22) where it is in a forward-downward position and cannot be locked to the engaged part 61, and the up-down swing drive is performed by a hydraulic cylinder 65 that is interposed between the locking hook 62 and the inner pipe 63 and whose operation is controlled by the control device Uc. The hydraulic cylinder 65 has a cylinder portion pivotally connected 65p to the inner pipe 63, and a piston rod portion pivotally connected via a link mechanism to a downward arm portion that is integral with the base of the hook main bodies 62m, 62m.

[0124] In the second embodiment, the locking hook 62 is formed in a straight line when viewed from the side, but a hook-like shape similar to the fastening hook 62 may be used.

[0125] The inner pipe 63 is formed in a square tube shape having a rectangular cross section extending in the front-rear direction, and is fitted and supported in the outer pipe 64, which is also square tube-shaped, so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The outer pipe 64 is fixed in a forward-facing position on a fixing base 69 immediately below the compactor Cp, with its axis facing in the front-rear direction.

[0126] A push plate 66 is fixed to the upper front end of the inner pipe 63 so as to be able to come into and out of contact with the lower rear end of the container body 10 (the engaged portion 61 in this embodiment) when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is extended, thereby pushing the container Ct forward, and a cushion member 67 made of a hard elastic material that absorbs impact when the push plate 66 comes into contact with the container Ct is joined to the surface of the push plate 66 facing the container Ct. Thus, during the extension process of the hydraulic cylinder 60, a forward (return) driving force is transmitted to the container Ct via the inner pipe 63, the push plate 66, and the cushion member 67 that are linked to the extension operation.

[0127] 20 and 21, one set of container driving devices D2 of the second embodiment is disposed immediately below the center in the left-right direction in an area spanning the movement trajectory of the container Ct on the support base B and the front part of the compactor Cp. In this relationship, the container fastening mechanisms 70 described in the first embodiment are disposed in parallel on the left and right sides of the container driving mechanism D2 so as not to interfere with the container driving mechanism D2.

[0128] Other structures of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. Each component of the second embodiment is given the same reference numeral as the corresponding component of the first embodiment, and further structural description will be omitted.

[0129] Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

[0130] When the container Ct is transported close to the compactor Cp by the container transport vehicle, the container Ct is lowered onto the guide rail Br of the support base B in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment, and is then transported and driven to the initial position A1, where it stops (see Figure 17).

[0131] When the photoelectric sensor 8 or other sensors confirm that the container Ct has stopped at the initial position A1, the control device Uc extends the hydraulic cylinder 60 of the container drive device D2 to advance the inner pipe 63 (and therefore the locking hook 62 at the standby position). Then, when the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its extension limit, the inner pipe 63 (locking hook 62) linked to the hydraulic cylinder 60 stops at its forward limit. From this state, the control device Uc rotates the locking hook 62 upward around the base pin 62p2 from the standby position to the locking position, and engages it with the engaged portion 61 at the bottom of the container Ct. At this time, the locking hook 62 has some play in the engagement portion with the engaged portion 61, as is clear from FIG. 18.

[0132] Next, the hydraulic cylinder 60 is contracted to move the inner pipe 63 (the locking hook 62) backward, and the container Ct moves forward, that is, is pulled toward the compactor Cp. Then, during the pulling, when a proximity sensor (not shown) provided between the bottom of the container Ct and the support base B detects that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2, based on the detection result, the control device Uc stops the contraction of the hydraulic cylinder 60, therefore the backward movement of the container Ct, and temporarily stops the container Ct at the approach position A (see FIG. 19).

[0133] Accordingly, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the gate lifting device Dg lifts the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 to its upper limit position, opens the opening 21o of the tailgate 20, and opens the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0134] Next, the control device Uc resumes the contraction operation of the hydraulic cylinder 60 while keeping the gate plate 22 at the upper limit position, and pulls the container Ct further toward the compactor Cp (i.e., moves it backward). As a result, as is clear from Fig. 20, the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its contraction limit and stops contracting, and the container Ct stops at the push-in position A3. At this time, the push plate 66 with the cushion member 67 at the front end of the inner pipe 63 faces and approaches the lower rear end of the container body 10 (the rear surface of the engaged portion 61 in this embodiment) with a small gap therebetween, and this small gap becomes a factor that generates an ineffective stroke when the hydraulic cylinder 60 starts to extend from the push-in position A3 (i.e., moves the container Ct backward).

[0135] During the forward movement of the container Ct from the approach position A2 toward the push-in position A3, the gate plate 22 tilts forward around the hinge pin 21p in conjunction with the approach of the container Ct to the push-in position A3, as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7).

[0136] Next, the control device Uc, like the first embodiment, operates the compactor Cp to push the waste from the compactor Cp into the container Ct at the pushing position A3.

[0137] Then, when the container Ct becomes full of waste, the controller Uc stops the pushing operation of the compactor Cp and then extends the hydraulic cylinder 60. In this case, the extension force of the hydraulic cylinder 60 is transmitted to the rear end lower part (engaged part 61) of the container body 10 via the inner pipe 63 and the push plate 66 with the cushion member 67, and the container Ct starts to move forward (going). As a result, the container Ct moves forward (i.e., returns) from the pushing position A3 to the initial position A1 via a temporary stop period at the approach position A2.

[0138] Furthermore, the pushing operation of the compactor Cp can be stopped and the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60 can be resumed at will by an operator manually operating the control panel U, or the control device Uc can automatically control this based on the detection of a waste-full sensor inside the container Ct.

[0139] Meanwhile, in the forward movement (return) process of the container Ct from the push-in position A3, the forward and backward movement of the container Ct by the hydraulic cylinder 60 of the container drive device D2 and the lifting and lowering of the gate plate 22 by the gate lifting device Dg are linked in the reverse order to the above-mentioned backward movement (going) process. That is, when the container Ct moves forward from the push-in position A3 to the approach position A2, the control device Uc stops the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60 based on the detection result of the proximity sensor to temporarily suspend the container Ct at the approach position A2, and during the temporary suspension, lowers the gate plate 22 in the vertical posture from the upper limit position to the lower limit position.

[0140] Thereafter, the control device Uc resumes the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60, thereby moving the container Ct forward from the approach position A2 toward the initial position A1. In this case, as is clear from Fig. 22, when the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its extension limit (i.e., full stroke), the extension automatically stops, and the container Ct stops at a predetermined return position A1'. Next, the container Ct is loaded onto the container transport vehicle by the loading / unloading device (not shown).

[0141] Incidentally, the return position A1' is slightly deviated from the initial position A1 due to the aforementioned invalid stroke at the beginning of the return movement of the container Ct from the pushed-in position A3, but the deviation is so slight that it does not cause any practical problem.

[0142] When the container Ct starts to return from the push-in position A3, the locking hook 62 is rotated downward about the base pin 62p2 to the standby position. This downward rotation to the standby position may be performed after the container Ct has stopped at the return position A1', but is performed before loading onto the container transport vehicle.

[0143] In the second embodiment described above, the container driving device D2 includes a locking hook 62 as a locking member that can be engaged and disengaged with the bottom of the container Ct, an inner pipe 63 as a movable support member that supports the locking hook 62 and can move in the forward and backward directions together with the locking hook 62, and a hydraulic cylinder 60 that can drive the container Ct between the initial position A1 and the push-in position A3 via the inner pipe 63 and the locking hook 62, and the hydraulic cylinder 60 is interposed between the outer pipe 64 and the inner pipe 63 so that the container Ct is in the initial position when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is in the extension limit position and the container Ct is in the push-in position A3 when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is in the contraction limit position.

[0144] As a result, even if the container Ct attempts to move beyond the appropriate position due to a failure of the hydraulic cylinder 60 or the hydraulic circuit (not shown) that operates it, the hydraulic cylinder 60 will reach its extension or contraction limit at that time, and excessive movement of the container Ct will be restricted by the stroke limit of the hydraulic cylinder 60 itself. Therefore, the container Ct can be stopped accurately at the push-in position A3 (when moving forward) or the initial position A1 (when moving back).

[0145] Other advantages of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0146] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims.

[0147] For example, in the first and second embodiments, the container Ct carried by the container transport vehicle is moved back and forth in the forward and backward directions on the support base B to the initial position A1, and then driven by the container driving devices D1, D2 toward the pushing position A3. However, the container Ct carried by the container transport vehicle may be moved back and forth in the left and right directions on the support base B to the initial position A1, and then driven by the container driving devices D1, D2 toward the pushing position A3.

[0148] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the photoelectric sensor 8 detects that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1, but the arrival of the container Ct at the initial position A1 may be detected by various sensors other than the photoelectric sensor (for example, a proximity sensor provided between the container Ct and the support base B).

[0149] In the first and second embodiments, the hydraulic cylinder 34 is used as the telescopic cylinder that functions as the actuator of the gate lifting device Dg. However, an air cylinder may be used instead of the hydraulic cylinder, or a hydraulic or electric motor may be used as the actuator of the gate lifting device Dg.

[0150] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, a container Ct having a ceiling wall 13 is shown, but the container of the present invention may be a type that does not have a ceiling wall 13, or may be a type that has an opening and closing ceiling.

[0151] In the first and second embodiments, only the tip of the fork F is tapered (for example, conical), but most or all of the fork F including the tip may be tapered.

[0152] In the first and second embodiments, the tip of the fork F is conical and the receiving hole 22ah into which it is inserted is formed into an oval shape, but the receiving hole 22ah may be a circular hole. Alternatively, the tip of the fork F may be a tapered shape other than a cone, such as a polygonal pyramid (e.g., a triangular pyramid, a square pyramid, etc.), in which case the receiving hole 22ah may be a polygonal hole (e.g., a triangle, a square, etc.).

[0153] In the first embodiment, the chain 41 used in the chain transmission mechanism of the container driving device D1 is an endless chain, but a chain with ends (that is, a sprocket-winding type chain) may also be used.

[0154] In the first embodiment, the sensor 45 capable of detecting the amount of rotation of the motor 44 is used as a sensor for detecting whether the container Ct is in a predetermined position (i.e., the initial position A1, the approach position A2, the pushed-in position A3, or the return position A'). However, other sensors, such as a proximity sensor interposed between the container Ct and the support base B, may also be used.

[0155] In addition, in the first embodiment, a fail-safe stopper mechanism 50 for reliably stopping the container Ct at a predetermined position, i.e., the pushing position A3 (when moving forward) or the initial position A1 (when moving back), is shown as being arranged separately and independently from the container driving device D1. However, a stopper mechanism 50 having a similar structure and function may also be arranged separately and independently from the container driving device D2 in the second embodiment.

[0156] In the second embodiment, the container Ct is in the initial position A1 at the extension limit of the hydraulic cylinder 60 arranged between the outer pipe 64 and the inner pipe 63, and in the pushed-in position A3 at the contraction limit. However, a modified example can be implemented in which the container Ct is in the initial position A1 at the contraction limit of the hydraulic cylinder, and in the pushed-in position A3 at the extension limit. In this modified example, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be expected.

[0157] In the above embodiment, the fork F is fixed to the opening / closing drive member 35 which is provided separately from the cylinder 34 of the lifting drive device 30 and is driven to move up and down by the cylinder 34. However, the tip of the piston rod of the cylinder 34 or a fixed object at the tip (e.g. a bracket) may also be used as the opening / closing drive member.

[0158] In addition, in the above embodiment, the locking member 80 has a contact portion 82 that can contact the fork F and an engagement portion 81 that can be engaged and disengaged with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21, which are separated in the axial direction, and the two portions 82, 81 are linked via a transmission portion (shaft portion 85) that can transmit the unlocking force (rotational force) that the contact portion 82 receives from the fork F to the engagement portion 81. However, such a transmission portion (shaft portion 85) may be omitted, and in that case, for example, the contact portion 82 and the engagement portion 81 may be integrally connected to each other, so that the engagement portion 81 can be moved in accordance with the movement of the contact portion 82.

[0159] In addition, in the above embodiment, the abutment portion 82 provided on the locking member 80 and capable of abutting against the fork F is shown to include a support arm 82a fixed to the transmission portion (shaft portion 85) of the locking member 80, and a roller 82r journaled thereon and abutting against the fork F so as to be able to move toward and away from it; however, the roller 82r can be omitted if necessary, and in that case, for example, the free end of the support arm 82a may be directly abutted against the fork F so as to be able to move toward and away from it.

[0160] In the above embodiment, the engaging portion 81 provided on the locking member 80 so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 is configured as a hook with a locking claw 81t, and the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 engageable with and disengageable from the hook is configured as an engaging pin, but such a configuration in which the engaging portion 81 and the engaged portion 25 can be engaged with and disengaged from each other is not limited to the embodiment. For example, contrary to the embodiment, the engaging portion 81 on the locking member 80 side may be configured as an engaging pin, and the engaged portion 25 on the gate support frame 21 side may be configured as a hook. Alternatively, instead of a pivoting hook as in the embodiment, the mating side of the engagement pin may be a receiving member having an engagement recess (e.g., an engagement groove, notch, etc.) or engagement hole that can be engaged and disengaged with the engagement pin, and in this case, the receiving member may be rotated in conjunction with the fork F, similar to the engagement portion 81 in the embodiment, or the engagement pin may be slid back and forth or left and right in conjunction with the fork without rotating the receiving member, thereby engaging and disengaging with the engagement recess or engagement hole of the receiving member.

[0161] In the above embodiment, the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 22 is a through hole, and the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82 is abutted against the fork F after the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. However, the front-rear positional relationship between the receiving hole 22ah and the roller 82r may be reversed. That is, the roller 82r may be disposed in front of the receiving hole 22ah so that the roller 82r abuts against the fork F immediately before the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, and the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah after abutting against the roller 82r, so that the locking member 80 moves toward the unlocking position 80B. In this case, the receiving hole 22ah in the gate plate 22 does not necessarily have to be a through hole. For example, the receiving hole 22ah may be a bottomed hole as long as a sufficient insertion allowance for the fork F into the receiving hole 22ah can be secured.

[0162] In the above embodiment, a structural example has been shown in which the locking device L releases the lock by bringing the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82 into contact with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 22 or immediately before it is inserted. However, as a variation, a modified example can also be implemented in which the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82 does not contact the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, and then the fork F is lifted a predetermined amount while still in the inserted state, causing the fork F to abut against the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82 and release the lock. This will be described with reference to Figures 28 to 30.

[0163] In this modification, as is clear from Figs. 28 to 30, the receiving hole 22ah is formed wider downward compared to the previous embodiment, and when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, the fork F is set to be lower than the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82. Therefore, the insertion roller 82r does not simply abut the fork F in the receiving hole 22as, and the fork F abuts against the roller 82r as the fork F is raised a predetermined amount (i.e., the height difference between the fork F and the roller 82r at the time of insertion) while still in the inserted state, thereby unlocking the locking device L. In this case, the fork F is set to abut against the roller 82r at a height lower than the height at which it engages with the receiving hole 22ah (particularly the upper half inner surface), so that the gate plate 22 is prevented from being driven upward by the fork F before the locking device L is unlocked.

[0164] In addition, in the above embodiment, a gate lifting device Dg as an opening / closing drive device having an opening / closing drive member 35 capable of driving the gate plate 22 to open and close is shown to be arranged between the compactor Cp and the container Ct, independently of the compactor Cp, etc. However, the arrangement of the gate lifting device Dg as an opening / closing drive device is not limited to the embodiment, and for example, the gate lifting device may be installed in the compactor Cp as in Patent Document 1.

[0165] In the above embodiment, the gate plate 22 is guided and supported by the gate support frame 21 so as to be vertically slidable, and the gate lifting device Dg, which serves as an opening / closing drive device, drives the gate plate 22 up and down to forcibly open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct. However, the present invention may also be embodied in a device in which the gate plate 22 is guided and supported by the gate support frame 21 so as to be horizontally slidable, and the opening / closing drive device drives the gate plate 22 back and forth in the horizontal direction to forcibly open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0166] In the above embodiment, when the container Ct is moved to the approach position A2 relative to the compactor Cp, the insertion depth of the forks F into the receiving holes 22ah of the gate plate 22 is set to be sufficiently long to prevent the forks F from slipping out of the receiving holes 22ah when the gate plate 22 is raised or lowered. However, a slipout prevention mechanism for more reliably preventing the forks F from slipping out may be provided between the opening / closing drive member 35 and the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22. [Explanation of symbols]

[0167] Cp...compactor, Ct...container, D1, D2...container drive device, Dg...gate lifting device as opening / closing drive device, F...fork, L...lock device, 10i...entrance, 21...gate support frame, 22...gate plate, 22a...extension wall portion as the upper end of the gate plate, 22ah...receiving hole, 22Z...closed position, 25...engaged portion, 35...opening / closing drive member, 80...lock member, 80A...locked position, 80B...unlocked position, 81...engagement portion, 82...contact portion, 82r...roller, 83...coil spring as biasing member, 84...spring receiving member as connection portion, 85...shaft portion

Claims

1. The present invention relates to a container (Ct) having at one end an entrance (10i) opened and closed by a gate plate (22) and a gate support frame (21) for supporting the gate plate (22) so as to be slidable in a predetermined opening and closing direction, a compactor (Cp) capable of pushing waste into the container (Ct) through the entrance (10i), an opening and closing drive device (Dg) having an opening and closing drive member (35) capable of driving the gate plate (22) to open and close and disposed on the compactor (Cp) or between the compactor (Cp) and the container (Ct), and a container drive device (D1, D2) for driving the gate plate (22) to move toward or away from a compactor (Cp), the opening / closing drive member (35) has a fork (F) fixed thereto that can be inserted into or removed from a receiving hole (22ah) provided on an outer periphery of the gate plate (22), and the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah) as the container (Ct) approaches the compactor (Cp), thereby interlocking the gate plate (22) with the opening / closing drive member (35), a locking member (80) which is normally held in a predetermined locking position (80A) for locking the gate plate (22) in a closed position (22Z) is provided on the gate plate (22) so as to move to an unlocking position (80B) in conjunction with the fork (F) when the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah) or immediately before the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah); A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container, characterized in that the locking member (80) has an engaging portion (81) that engages with an engaged portion (25) of the gate support frame (21) to maintain the locked position (80A) when the locking member (80) is in the locked position (80A), and the engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member (80) to the unlocked position (80B).

2. The present invention relates to a container (Ct) having at one end an entrance (10i) opened and closed by a gate plate (22) and a gate support frame (21) for supporting the gate plate (22) so as to be slidable in a predetermined opening and closing direction, a compactor (Cp) capable of pushing waste into the container (Ct) through the entrance (10i), an opening and closing drive device (Dg) having an opening and closing drive member (35) capable of driving the gate plate (22) to open and close and disposed on the compactor (Cp) or between the compactor (Cp) and the container (Ct), and a container drive device (D1, D2) for driving the gate plate (22) to move toward or away from a compactor (Cp), the opening / closing drive member (35) has a fork (F) fixed thereto that can be inserted into or removed from a receiving hole (22ah) provided on an outer periphery of the gate plate (22), and the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah) as the container (Ct) approaches the compactor (Cp), thereby interlocking the gate plate (22) with the opening / closing drive member (35), a locking member (80) which is normally held at a predetermined locking position (80A) for locking the gate plate (22) at a closed position (22Z) is provided on the gate plate (22) so as to move to an unlocking position (80B) in conjunction with the fork (F) rising a predetermined amount after the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah); A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container, characterized in that the locking member (80) has an engaging portion (81) that engages with an engaged portion (25) of the gate support frame (21) to maintain the locked position (80A) when the locking member (80) is in the locked position (80A), and the engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member (80) to the unlocked position (80B).

3. A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking member (80) has an abutment portion (82) that can abut against the fork (F) so as to receive an unlocking force from the fork (F).

4. A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container as described in claim 3, characterized in that the abutment portion (82) has a roller (82r) that is rotatably supported on the locking member (80) and can be contacted and separated by the fork (F).

5. A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a biasing member (83) is connected to the locking member (80) for constantly biasing the locking member (80) toward the locking position (80A).

6. A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gate plate (22) is held in the gate support frame (21) so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the receiving hole (22ah) is formed in the upper end (22a) of the gate plate (22) which protrudes upward from the gate support frame (21) when the gate plate (22) is in the closed position (22Z), and when the fork (F) is inserted into the receiving hole (22ah), the opening and closing drive member (35) is capable of driving the gate plate (22) up and down.

7. The locking member (80) has the abutment portion (82), a connection portion (84) to which a biasing member (83) that constantly biases the locking member (80) toward the lock position (80A) is connected, and a shaft portion (85) that extends substantially along an upper end portion (22a) of the gate plate (22) and is rotatably supported by the upper end portion (22a), A gate opening and closing device in a waste pushing system into a container as described in claim 3, characterized in that the engagement portion (81), the connection portion (84) and the abutment portion (82) are connected to the shaft portion (85) at intervals from each other in the axial direction and so as to rotate together with the shaft portion (85).

Images